The oldest breeding female osprey in the UK has astounded rangers for the third time this season by laying a record breaking 64th egg.

The 26-year-old bird, known as Lady, produced her third egg this year on Friday night at the Loch of the Lowes reserve near Dunkeld, Perthshire.

She returned to her annual breeding ground for a record breaking 22nd time in late March, and mated with a three-year-old "toy boy" newcomer.

But there were concerns after she at first appeared to lay a "phantom egg".

Centre assistant manager Jonathan Pinnick said: “We are very excited. We thought it was unlikely she would lay a third egg having appeared to lay a ‘phantom’ earlier this season and then two eggs so it is brilliant news.”

It will be five to six weeks before they hatch but, if successful, they will be the first chicks born at Loch of the Lowes since 2010 as last year the eggs failed, despite being proved fertile.

Lady, distinguishable close up by her plumage and "lightning bolt" mark on her eye, is a wildlife phenomenon, living three times longer than an average osprey.