Rutland water osprey Maya lays third egg of the season

A much-loved bird has delighted fans by laying her third egg of the season.

Rutland Water osprey Maya and her mate 33(11) returned to their regular nest at Manton Bay last month.

Since then people have been watching live footage of them preparing a nest.

Maya laid her first egg on Wednesday last week (April 6) followed by a second on Saturday and a third this morning (Tuesday.)

Ospreys usually lay their eggs at three-day intervals and they take between 35 and 42 days to hatch.

Maya, thought to be at least 18-years-old, has been in Rutland since 2009 and has been breeding on the Manton Bay nest since 2010. During that time she has raised 38 chicks, making her one of the most successful breeding female ospreys on record.