Many thanks to AG who wrote this preface to the Llyn Brenig thread for us (below)
Llyn Brenig is a reservoir on the border between Denbighshire and County Conwy in North Wales. It is managed by Welsh Water; the osprey project is a partnership between them and North Wales Wildlife Trust.
One pair of ospreys raised a single chick here each year from 2018-2020. Neither of this pair returned in 2021, when the nest was taken over by 2 Scottish birds, LJ2 (male) and LM6 (female), both 2018 chicks. The nest was vandalised the night after LM6 had laid her first egg; while the two could not continue to breed they did stay close to the site until normal migration time.
A new nest has been erected in 2022 with additional security and a streaming camera is in place. A new hide has also been built.
Links to
North Wales Wildlife Trust Page https://www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk/days-out/ospreys-llyn-brenig
Welsh Water Page https://llynbrenig.com/llyn-brenig-osprey/
Osprey Project Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/brenigospreyproject
Friends of Llyn Brenig Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/FriendsofLlynBrenigBlue24
Llyn Brenig YouTube Channel for Live Stream https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8_OrcBilBcFmDQVGgrk2ng
Just after 07.34, LM6 got back up to finish off breakfast with her chicks.
They both ate well with #2 retiring from the feed first.
#1 then sat back too and LM6 continued to finish off the fish. She did offer to #1 again but it declined. She downed the tail.
10.24 LM6 gets up from brooding to do some preening. Chick #1 gets up to follow mum’s lead!
10.42, LJ2 arrives with the second fish of the day, a nice sized headless trout.
It is a simple handover to LM6 with the fish being dead
These 2 chicks are thriving with getting so many regular feeds.
And time to rest!……….
Around 13.10, LM6 decided to give the chicks another feed off the remaining piece of fish.
Another good feed
The chicks moved away to settle down. LM6 ate a little more herself.
Something caught LM6’s eye above and around. A bird flew past without any reaction so it must’ve been LJ2.
LM6 then flew off for a comfort break and shortly returned to brood her chicks.
Around 14.45 fish #3 arrives, a slim silver one!
LM6 doesn’t move over to collect it. LJ2 stays on the nest for a couple of minutes then flies off again holding the fish.
Just after 16.00 LJ2 returns with fish #3 and leaves it this time, albeit only the tail end left!
LJ2 looks like he is going to feed the chicks then changes his mind a couple of times. LM6 waits patiently then goes for the fish and starts feeding chick #2 straight away.
Chick #1 stays lying down until chick #2 is finished and collapses in a heep. Chick #1 then sits up to be fed.
Two very satisfied Osprey chicks.
That was a long wait from the last feed this afternoon. At 21.40 LJ2 arrives with a nice trout. LM6 and the chicks are up quickly and very vocal.
The feed starts quickly with both chicks continually asking
They both feed well with LM6 serving as fast as she can! Chick #1 receives a big piece of skin and tries its best to eat it but has to drop it to receive smaller pieces from LM6.
Chick #2 is first to retire. Chick #1 keeps asking. LM6 momentarily stops as she hears/sees LJ2 do a fly past.
She carries on feeding chick #1 and LJ2 can be seen returning flying up the water and back swooping down, dragging his talons to clean them.
LJ2 in the box to the left with the trail still showing on the water in the other box.
The feed lasts around 15 minutes when LM6 decides to stop and settle down with her chicks.
(Around 22.25)
It’s like LM6 saw LJ2 coming back for the remainder of the fish as she got up and grabbed it in her talon. He arrived just after!
Only chick #1 wanted a feed this time.
Night cam on and just after 23.00, it happens again. LM6 gets up to grab the fish just before LJ2 flies onto the nest!
LJ2 must be quite hungry too. Chick #1 again manages some and LM6 takes some leaving a very small tail piece.
LM6 takes the tail and lays it close to the chicks before brooding, like she’s guarding it! (You can see the dark shape immediately in front of her)