KIELDER Water and Forest Park is flying high after producing its 50th osprey chick since the birds began nesting in the area in 2009.

This year nine chicks have fledged from four nests including Archer from nest three, officially the 50th bird to take its first flight at Kielder.

This year is the second most successful breeding season for the Kielder Ospreys, with only 2016 producing more fledged chicks - a record-breaking 11.

Staff at the park say that while extremely wet weather has affected a number of UK osprey nests this season, including at Kielder, the overall productivity of just over two fledges per nest is still above the average for many UK osprey projects.

Joanna Dailey, Kielder Ospreys expert volunteer, said: “Kielder has proved to be a successful home for ospreys, with excellent habitat and food supply.

“A special pleasure has been seeing the nest three adults, breeding here since 2014, raise three chicks.”

Visitors can watch the birds until late August via nest cameras broadcasting at Kielder Castle Café.