All three of the newly hatched osprey chicks in the Cairngorms have died.

RSPB Scotland confirmed Mother EJ's chicks all died in the early hours of Monday at the Loch Garten reserve.

EJ is Scotland's oldest known osprey, aged 20, and has been based at the reserve for 15 years, in which time she has reared 25 chicks.

She laid three eggs last month and endured heavy snowfall to protect them in her nest.

Since RSPB Scotland reported the chicks had died, EJ has left the nest and returned with a fish, having been without food herself for around four days.

EJ has reared 17 chicks with partner Odin, making them the most successful breeding pair at the Loch Garten site.

RSPB Scotland believes Odin, who was hunting fish for the chicks, may have since been scared off by a younger male, Cromarty, also known as PP7.

In a blog post, RSPB Scotland said: "It is not unreasonable to surmise that Odin saw PP7 and was scared off.

"As if this wasn't enough, another two, possibly three, intruding ospreys also arrived, adding to the pressure on Odin.

"Providing fish for a young family and defending the nest is an energy-sapping job and it's only natural that younger males will try and prove their worth by taking over a territory from an older male.

Should EJ and Cromarty mate, it will likely be the next nesting season before another clutch of eggs is produced, normally in April.

It is possible that at her advanced age, this year could have been EJ's last breeding season.

RSPB Scotland justified its decision not to intervene to feed the chicks as disrupting the natural order.