Best places to see ospreys in Scotland

The fact these birds of prey nest hundreds of feet above the ground in isolated locations, and are a protected species, means that modern technology is needed to allow us to see family life osprey style, though they can be spotted fishing at a number of locations. LOCH OF THE LOWES SCOTTISH WILDLIFE TRUST RESERVE, Perthshire, www.swt.org.uk Scotland's most experienced osprey mum is raising two chicks with the help of her mate, known as Stressed Eric. For a never-to-be-forgotten moment, watch the old lady of the loch from the hide, just 200 yards across the water from the nest, which is perched hundreds of feet up in a tree. The chicks are expected to fledge in the next few weeks. There is also CCTV in the visitors' centre providing live pictures of the nest (this is also on the reserve's website) and you can visit the observation room to watch red squirrels, woodpeckers and greenfinches competing for the best morsels from the feeders. Out on the loch there is a variety of water birds including elegant great crested grebes and swans. The centre is open from 10am-5pm each day. LOCH GARTEN RSPB RESERVE, Abernethy, Highlands rspb.org.uk EJ, who has returned to Loch Garten for the past seven seasons, has paired up with a new mate, Odin, and their three chicks, born at the end of May, are thriving – thanks to Odin's fishing prowess. Recently, he returned to the nest with a record nine fish in a day. By mid-July the chicks are expected to fledge, and if you're lucky you could see them flying over the loch as they make their first fishing attempts. Look out for red squirrels, great spotted woodpecker, goldeneye and wigeon on the reserve. The centre is open daily from 10am-5pm. TWEED VALLEY OSPREY PROJECT, Borders www.forestry.gov.uk/tweedvalleyospreysGet a fantastic close-up view of osprey chicks Tokyo, Caledonia and Stig (named by local schoolchildren) and their mother, via a live camera at the twin osprey centres at Glentress Forest and Kailzie Gardens. If you're lucky you may also see the male bird returning to the nest with fish for his family. The pair have nested in the area for the past five seasons and there are eight other osprey pairs breeding in the area. The knowledgeable staff at the centres can tell you where you're likely to see the male birds on their fishing expeditions. Cameras at Glentress also give you a close-up view of a jackdaw and a swallow's nest, and at the Kailzie centre you can see all the action at a nuthatch, a heron, and a bluetit nest. Both centres, open daily from 10am to 5pm until the end of August, are two miles from Peebles and well sign-posted from the town. CAERLAVEROCK WILDFOWL AND WETLANDS TRUST CENTRE, Dumfries www.wwt.org.ukFor the first time in more than 100 years an osprey family has set up home in the area and a chick has hatched. From the visitors' centre coffee shop a camera enables you to watch the female bird feeding the chick with fish brought to the nest by her mate after trips to nearby lochs and ponds. While you're there don't miss the 200 recently hatched rare tadpole shrimps in a tank at the centre. The spawn occurs in only two small ponds in Britain – one here, and the other in the New Forest in southern England.The centre is open from 10am to 5pm every day. ROTHIEMURCHUS, Aviemore, Highlands www.rothiemurchus.net If you want to see an osprey plunging into the water and emerging with a struggling fish in its talons, this is one of the best places to try. Several birds in the area regularly appear at the Rothiemurchus Fish Farm so it's well worth a visit. Admission to the Fish Farm costs 2. Carina Norris is a science writer based in Fife.