Ozzie was passing over an area of low moorland with scattered pines when he heard an Osprey calling below. He scanned the terrain and saw her, perched on a dead branch by a nest in the broken top of an ancient pine. He scanned the sky around him, fearing an attack by a male. It never came. Ozzie circled the site and came back over the nest. She called again. He began to climb, calling himself. At 400 metres he suddenly tipped forward and into a sky-dance. Without the interruption of another male he warmed to his task. The female left the nesting tree and rose to check him out. She was eight years old and for the last three years had bred with an old male. She had been ringed as a nestling in Scotland and wore a yellow ring inscribed BEL. BEL had arrived back a week ago, but her mate had not returned. He never would. BEL flew with Ozzie for sixteen minutes. Ozzie got mixed messages from her. Did she want him to stay or go? She returned to the nest while Ozzie continued to circle. Her hostility apparently weakened, and Ozzie dropped down towards the nest. BEL warned him off and he landed in a tree 300 metres away, the nest in full view. After twenty minutes Ozzie launched himself off and glided over the heather towards the nest. The female called. He pressed on and she took off towards him. Ozzie veered off and began to climb. The female followed. They flew together for over an hour, Ozzie often calling and sky dancing. BEL returned to the nest. Ozzie drifted off and returned twenty minutes later carrying a fish. BEL began calling, encouraging him to the nest. He sky-danced with the fish before bringing it in and presenting the fish to BEL. She took it in her talons to a nearby tree and fed. He had been accepted as her new mate.

Ospreys use an established nest built in previous years, adding to it each year until it is huge. Inexperienced young Osprey pairs often construct new nests. Establishing the pair-bond, the territory and building a nest for the first time means that young Osprey pairs rarely breed successfully in their first season, sometimes they don't even get round to laying eggs!