Continued from March/April 2024
LINK to Opening Page with background and history of this nest and relevant links
This season so far
31 March Blue LJ2 returns
1 April Blue 372 briefly visits, 6 April Blue 372 returns and stays
Sadly, Blue LM6 has not returned
Eggs laid
#1 April 23 - 17.40, #2 April 26 - 19.28, #3 April 29 - 15.46
All captures and videos ©️NWWT, Welsh Water, Brenig Osprey Project
April saw Blue LJ2 (18) pair with a new female, Blue 372 (21), with his first mate, Blue LM6 (18) sadly not returning this year. They raised 2 chicks in 2022 and 2023 and had formed a good partnership.
As a 3 year old, this is Blue 372’s first year of breeding. She was translocated to Poole Harbour in 2021 from a Scottish nest. She returned in 2023 and teamed up with Blue 416. They actually intruded at Llyn Brenig then and found themselves a nest elsewhere on private land in Wales. However, this year, Blue 372 chose the Llyn Brenig nest and LJ2 as her mate. Blue 416 did intrude here and try to take Blue 372 back. She stuck to her choice though and Blue LJ2 courted her and they became a couple. A lot of new experiences for Blue 372 this year but she is handling everything well and still doing her own thing ie catching fish if need be!
Brenig posted a video of the intruder earlier today on their FB
Link HERE
May 9
Good morning. I hardly saw 372 close her eyes all night. She was peaceful enough but awake, having the one wing stretch at 01.24.
LJ2 flew to the tower perch at 04.09.
04.30 the stillness of the morning.
04.48
04.57 he had a stretch then flew to the nest.
372 was ready for her break and got up straight away.
04.58 LJ2 settled on the eggs.
05.12 372 visited the nest tower.
05.32
05.36 LJ2 rolls the eggs
05.43 Some geese could be heard and one flew over the water. LJ2 flew off the nest to investigate.
05.44 372 came to the nest.
06.05 No wonder she is tired.
06.12 LJ2 is back at the tower perch.
06.22 372 still dozing
06.48 she has been doing some preening too
06.52 LJ2 has been preening as well
07.18 372
07.37 LJ2
07.46 He’s ready to visit the nest again.
07.49 LJ2 collects a tiny piece of bark en route to the nest.
07.49 He has a quick check of the eggs and sits down.
08.09 LJ2
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
08.43 372 has a quick preen on the tower perch.
09.08 LJ2, beak open, feeling the heat early on today.
09.09 372 arrives at the nest clasping a single piece of bark. Her undercarriage is wet, she must’ve had a dip. 09.20 rolling the eggs before settling down.
09.32 LJ2 returns a short while later carrying a long piece of bark.
Off she goes
09.33 LJ2 still has the downy feather stuck on his beak after preening earlier.
Lovely ‘tache LJ2!
10.23 LJ2 was busy with his head stuck in his back when 372 landed on the nest
What a fright he got, his tail flipped over as he jumped up quickly.
They watched a couple of noisy geese skim the water by the nest.
10.24 LJ2 flew off with 372 taking over incubation again.
11.14 Those little feathers that the birds are moulting must be itchy.
12.18 372 still on the nest. She’s been gular fluttering for a while now. Must be hot today. 13.03
13.19 You could see 372’s back move as she was breathing heavily due to the heat. LJ2 flew in to relieve her.
13.20 A couple of adjustments and he settled down onto the eggs.
The 2 ospreys have been back and forward to the nest, wanting to incubate the eggs. Each has brought nesting materials on arrival.
14.01 372 with a clump of earth
14.14 LJ2 with more bark.
15.27 372 with a patch of grass
372 and her grass landed on LJ2’s tail.
He had to tug to get loose
15.44 LJ2 with a triangular piece of bark
17.32 372 was sitting on the nest. She got up and started mantling and chipping.
an Osprey was flying to the nest from over the water
it touched down on the nest, handily next to the camera. Blue 432
17.33 and off again
372 chipping loudly, watching where the bird goes.
It’s a female (21) from Kielder, nest 6. Eshells. She returned to the UK as a 2 year old as well. She’s a month too late for this nest as we have our own lovely 3 year old in residence now.
17.34 Blue 432 returns for another brief landing. 372 chipping her wee heart out, defending her nest and protecting her eggs,
all very brief, Blue 432 flies off again. LJ2 is seen coming from the posts area, to the right of screen, carrying a fish.
17.41 This Kielder girl is not for giving up. 372 is continually chipping on the nest, watching the skies.
17.43
17.54 here comes Blue 432 again with LJ2 in hot pursuit.
17.58 LJ2 lands on the side of the nest with his fish. Good size btw!
But he is followed, here she comes again, silhouetted against the sky.
she swoops down towards the nest, LJ2 makes a quick departure off the side.
2 seconds later, Blue 432 arrives on the nest. 372 is frantically chipping and flapping.
She moves to the other side.
372 moves and flaps at Blue 432
and she leaves the nest again.