THERE'S a new chick in town but this bolshy bird could end up being chucked out of the nest when her secret lover's long-term girlfriend returns.

For the past five years the same pair of Ospreys - a female called KL and her partner Unring, have nested at the same site at the Lake District Osprey Project in Bassenthwaite.

The male bird flew into the pair's regular nesting site on Easter Saturday and staff at the project eagerly awaited KL's return in the hope they would raise more chicks at the conservation project.

But in a shock twist another female has encroached on KL's territory and has been seen mating and sharing fish with the unfaithful Unring.

Anthony Hills from the osprey project said: “There was something about the way this female approached the nest with caution and seemed nervous around Unring. If it had been KL, she would have confidently flown in as she knows the site well.

"When we looked closer, it was clear this female had no ring, whereas KL is ringed, and her feather markings are different too.

“The pair have been mating and sharing fish together, but there is still time for KL to return in the coming week, in which case she will likely boot this new female off the nest! With so much drama going on, it is better than watching the soaps on TV.

"We’re hoping lots of people will come up to the viewpoints at Dodd Wood and to see the camera footage at Whinlatter to get all the latest updates.”

The Bassenthwaite ospreys re-colonised naturally in 2001 and marked the first time the birds had nested in Cumbria for at least 150 years. Since then Bassenthwaite ospreys have reared more than 30 chicks at the site which has attracted more than 1.5 million visitors.

Mating ospreys also nest further south in the county at Cumbria Wildlife Trust's biggest nature reserve at Foulshaw Moss near Witherslack. Earlier this week a pair of breeding ospreys returned to the reserve for the fifth year running.

Osprey fans can catch the latest installment at Bassenthwaite on a live web cam at ospreywatch.co.uk.