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
Unknown said:Good to see all is going well here as i had some concerns for this nest.
Definitely Alan, it was a struggle in the beginning and difficult to watch at times. Good to see chicks looking strong and healthy.
Around 08.50, LM6 got up to feed the chicks the remainder of fish #2.
Chick #1 initially took a few pieces then got up for the toilet and decided to turn away from the feed and rest.
Chick #2 carried on feeding until satisfied, then turned away leaving LM6 to finish off the fish.
14.27 It’s getting more and more difficult to see the nest due to the rain drops ever constant on the camera lens.
LM6 is sitting tight, giving her chicks all the protection she can. These conditions must make it tricky for fishing as well but I have every confidence LJ2 will bring more in.
Just before 15.00, fish #3 arrives at the nest. I have no idea what it was as the images are very blurry.
LM6 gets up to receive it and both chicks are keen to be fed.
The feed lasted around 10 mins. I think it was a very small fish.
At around 15.44 LJ2 lands on the nest. He then starts mantling. Something has caught his and LM6’s eye.
LM6 starts screeching and LJ2 moves beside her, they follow an intruder in the sky.
LJ2 then leaves the nest to chase the intruder off.
LM6 remains on the nest with her chicks.
17.25 Fish delivery. Looks like a small perch again.
Both chicks are up before LM6! She retrieves the fish and feeds her youngsters.
Another perch delivery at 18.10.(Fish #5)
Another tricky handover. Chick #1 in the midst of tail feathers and wings as LM6 and LJ2 struggle to exchange the flapping fish.
LJ2 takes off and tries again, more successfully this time coming in from a different angle.
LM6 gets it safely in her talons.
Both chicks begin their feed.
Chick #2 is the first to retire with about half of the fish still left.
Chick #1 feeds until just the small tail end remains for LM6 to consume.
19.38 Fish #6 - perch #4
LM6 had left for a comfort break to the right when a few seconds later LJ2 arrived from the left with a fish.
He waited upon her return and passed the fish over.
The chicks ate just over half the fish when LM6 left it on the nest to brood them.
Things got a bit tricky as the growing chicks tried to shelter under the same wing. Chick #1 got in first.
Chick #2 shuffled in, knocking chick #1 out.
Chick #1 tried again to regain its spot and they shuffled and moved around with LM6 until she finally changed position to give them a wing each and at the same time, start arranging twigs in front of her. Multi tasking at its best!
21.10 Look, a practically clear cam lens! LM6 is brooding the chicks’ heads when she spots LJ2 coming towards the nest.
She quickly gets up as he grabs the remainder of the fish in his talons. He allows her to take it from him and the chicks get another wee feed.