LOCH GARTEN Daily Obs & Captures MAY 2021

Jane I've been charting the fish at Llyn Clywedog since the female returned on 29 March. In the 33 days to the end of April 56 fish were recorded. We don't have 24/7 streaming there it is about 14 hours at best. There were 2 days over that period with no fish.

AG thank you, it would seem that Axel needs to up his game if this nest is to be successful. But he is a young male so fingers crossed he is a quick learner.

JANEV I think it was Ems at Dyfi who said the birds can survive well on one good sized fish a day. At one point Axel seemed to be regularly bringing a supper-fish so what has happened now to make him so lax? There won't be eggs, or at least, not viable ones, if Mistle isn't in good condition

JANEV I think it was Ems at Dyfi who said the birds can survive well on one good sized fish a day. At one point Axel seemed to be regularly bringing a supper-fish so what has happened now to make him so lax? There won't be eggs, or at least, not viable ones, if Mistle isn't in good condition

JANEV I think it was Ems at Dyfi who said the birds can survive well on one good sized fish a day. At one point Axel seemed to be regularly bringing a supper-fish so what has happened now to make him so lax? There won't be eggs, or at least, not viable ones, if Mistle isn't in good condition

JANEV I think it was Ems at Dyfi who said the birds can survive well on one good sized fish a day. At one point Axel seemed to be regularly bringing a supper-fish so what has happened now to make him so lax? There won't be eggs, or at least, not viable ones, if Mistle isn't in good condition

Could it be down to the weather. If very cold the fish may have gone down to bottom making it more difficult for AXL to see and catch. Hopefully weather will improve soon and make fishing easier

The two days at LC when there were no fish was during the very cold weather. The fish also changed at this time - in good weather he catches mainly trout (which are released into the reservoir by the fishery for anglers - glad to say the folk at the fishery see the ospreys at Clwyedog as an added attraction, not as a threat). In the cold weather he tended to bring home more perch. The male is well established at Clywedog - this is his 6th season breeding there, so he knows where to go in which conditions.

I am a little concerned about the fish deliveries too, but given the wind, the snow, the cold perhaps I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.  I would hate to think he is going to be a George on the fishing front!  His mating techniques have certainly improved and he doesn't mantle at the sight of Mistle any more.  Just occasionally.  

I've gone back to day break, which Scylla has already reported on.  There hasn't been a fish delivery, but Mistle found a left over at 05.15.  She seemed to take a bit which required talon and beak to pull a piece off, and she just left it.  Then all within a minute Mistle flew off and returned to the campost, she pooped, and Axel flew on to her to mate which looked successful.  Axel immediately dropped down to the nest and found the discarded leftover, and he had a good heave-ho on the tough skin.  Mistle watched him almost inquisitively.  He is still at it at 05.43, so it must have been a reasonable piece.  But what was a left over piece doing on nest!  And why was he eating it on the nest - that's not in the rule book!

They have spent a lot of time together, just 'stood standing', pottering, comfortable in each other's company.  And lots of flying off, and back again.  Axel brought in a long stick.  Mistle brought some soft furnishings.  But I can't help feeling more moss or dead bracken is required.  I would hate to think of an egg falling between the holes!  Do you remember the wonderful bouncy mossy nest that the team in Richard Thaxton's day put in the nest before EJ and Odin's arrival in 2013?  The cam was definitely not HD!

The camera has panned a couple of times to find Axel, but to no avail, until 12.21 and thee found him on the nearby (fallen?) with the near horizontal branch.  Companionably within reach but further from earshot!

Axel flew off at 12.22. 

12.42 Mistle sunk into the nest and appeared to be calling.  Intruder?

12.43 Axel came to join her and to defend, although it didn't seem to require much on his part apart from joining her in watching around.

12.44 temporary flapping of wings both standing up side-by-side. 

12.47 Axel flew, followed immediately by Mistle  ENS

The cam panned out to cover both the nearby perch and the nest  - ENS

13.24  Still ENS

edit  13.27 Mistle (I think/assume but at the moment I can't tell from this distance) arrived with a HUGE Y-shaped stick.  

Has been ENS but someone just arrived with a very long stick and tripped over it in the nest. Long distance cam view. Edited to add: The cam has zoomed in, it is Axel faffing with a large twiggy branch on the nest.