A pair of ospreys at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve in Cumbria have helped produce a record five chicks in a single season, delighting birdwatchers and conservationists. Cumbria Wildlife Trust said the milestone was made possible by a new breeding pair joining the reserve's long-established resident pair, Blue 35 and White YW, marking a significant success for a species that has been the focus of sustained habitat restoration efforts at the site.

The five chicks have all been fitted with leg rings and tags to allow conservationists to monitor their movements and life history. The new pair, Blue 717 and her mate Blue 476, fledged three chicks this year after managing just one in their debut season last year, which the trust said was typical for inexperienced ospreys. The long-standing pair, believed to be around 18 years old, contributed the remaining two chicks, beating the reserve's previous record of three chicks in a season; the trust has asked visitors to avoid disturbing the newer nest, which sits close to a boardwalk, before the birds migrate to the Iberian Peninsula or West Africa in September.