Two young osprey chicks have been stolen from their Cumbrian nest by magpies.

The chicks were among three which hatched at the Lake District Osprey Project, based at Bassenthwaite, within the past few days. 

They were born to KL - a ringed osprey who has successfully laid eggs at the site in the past - and an unringed male, believed to be the same one from last year.

After great excitement within the project, an online blog last night and this morning confirmed the loss of two of the chicks.

Organisers wrote yesterday: "With observation, cunning and boldness, [the magpies] have worked out there is a moment of opportunity to slide onto the nest just as KL flies off for a comfort stop. 

"She will not have time to turn in mid air and attack before they have been in and out. Unring, sitting on a nearby branch will not have time either to swoop in before they swing down under the nest and away into the scrub.

"In this way the magpie stole away the newly hatched chick at 08.20 this morning. 

"It was so fast that viewers could hardly believe it had happened, but sadly, clear pictures showing only two little bodies instead of three proved the sighting to be true."

Those behind the project warned that, unless changes were made, it was likely the magpies would succeed.

An update this morning confirmed that: "A bleak look out for the ospreys as the magpies stole another chick at 17.00 last night.

"It has been a sad day, but yet another chapter in the real-life saga of the Bassenthwaite ospreys."