IT'S a love story which would send agony aunts into a frenzy.

When Henry returned from a 3000-mile trip there was no peck on the cheek to welcome him home.

Instead, he realised the love of his life had moved in with an old flame to start a new family.

Feathers quickly flew as Henry resorted to violence.

No amount of counselling was going to sort this split... as the love birds in question were ospreys.

Henry destroyed his mate EJ's eggs when he realised the eggs were not his.

EJ had moved in an older rogue male called VS to the love nest at Loch Garten, near Aviemore, when Henry was migrating during the spring.

This year's nature drama of betrayal, revenge and infanticide has intrigued twitchers.

Staff at the RSPB had feared the pair would fail to breed this season after the bitter row, but they are now happily back together and incubating a fresh clutch.

Such a second laying in one season has only occurred once before in Scotland - 25 years ago. The pair's new brood is expected from June 15.

Delighted Richard Thaxton, the RSPB site manager, said: "It's been an incredible couple of weeks.

"One moment our season was in full flight, next moment it was unfolding before our eyes.

"The remarkable and fantastic thing that's happened is that EJ has now re-laid eggs, fathered by Henry.

"This is a historic moment for the Loch Garten site. EJ is back on track for a successful breeding season."

Ospreys were wiped out as a nesting species in the 19th century but began to return in the 1950s, with Loch Garten the launchpad for their revival.

Since then more than 70 chicks have been reared at the site.