Hundreds of people have been tuning into a nest cam to follow a 'will-they, won't-they' saga from the natural world.

The camera, which was set up at an undisclosed coastal site this spring and is live streaming a wild osprey nest, was installed by the charity Birds of Poole Harbour.

Viewers have already seen the female osprey, called CJ7, arrive back and immediately begin nest building.

Now viewers are on tenterhooks, as she plays a waiting game for her mate, a male with the moniker LS7, to return from West Africa.

Birds of Poole Harbour's Paul Morton said: "This last week has been superb as CJ7 has become a real star.

"We were taking a bit of a gamble putting the camera on this nest as there was no guarantee they’d use it as both LS7 and CJ7 spent the whole of last summer visiting several different nest platforms around Poole Harbour.

"However we spent a lot of time studying their behaviour last year and came to the conclusion that this nest at this secret location would probably be the best bet, and so far it’s paid off.

"We just need LS7 to arrive back safely now.”

Osprey were once widespread across the whole of Western Europe several centuries ago, but numbers crashed as a result of persecution meaning they haven’t bred in southern Britain for almost 200 years.

Back in 2017 the Birds of Poole Harbour charity in partnership with the Roy Dennis Wildlife foundation and Wildlife Windows began a five-year reintroduction program in Dorset to try and get the birds of prey to re-establish as a breeding species once more.

The partnership is now keeping everything crossed that this year could be the year they see a nesting attempt should the male LS7 arrive some time in the latter part of April.

Mr Morton said: "To have so many people watching this historic event has been very special, and we hope it’s been a welcome distraction from other current world events.

"The truth is that we don’t even know if LS7 is alive and well as osprey migrations are long and dangerous.

"However, experience counts for a lot, and the fact he arrived back into the UK last year and spent the summer in Poole Harbour is a very positive sign.

"If he does arrive back in the next couple of weeks I’m sure there will be many people jumping for joy and raising a glass for them.”

The pair first met in Poole Harbour back in 2017 as CJ7 was migrating through Poole Harbour on her way to West Africa, with LS7 having just been raised and released in the harbour as part of the reintroduction program.

However, last year LS7 returned back to the UK for the first time from West Africa and the pair reunited and formed a very strong bond during the course of the summer

You can watch the live webcam HERE – https://www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk/osprey/osprey-webcams/