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
Monday 27.06.22
Been a wet and windy night. Wind seems to have dropped a bit now. 05.50 LM6 gets up from sheltering the chicks. She spies a piece of fish tail on the nest and begins to eat it.
After a few beakfuls, LJ2 arrives on the nest with a tiddler of a fish. The chicks are interested in what LJ2 has brought and chick #1 tries to grab it with its beak.
LM6 stops feeding from the fishtail and collects the tiny fish from LJ2.
She then feeds the chicks which takes 5 minutes.
The weather has improved as the day has gone on. At around 09.37, LM6 flies onto the nest. (Looks like she had been resting on the cam pole after leaving the nest for a comfort break 45 minutes earlier) The chicks had been doing a lot of preening. LJ2 arrives at the nest just after LM6 with a small fish.
10.50 Intruder alert. LJ2 joins LM6 briefly on the nest. They both mantle and chip at whoever is above them.
14.27 Better sized fish arrives.
15.30ish LM6 saw LJ2 and started fish calling. He arrived with a lovely stick.
But around 15 minutes later he brought a live perch to the nest
Followed by a pike around 16.25.
And at just after 17.15, another small perch.
So nice to see there has been plenty of sunshine on the nest today. The chicks have had a good preen and stretch out.
18.30 fish delivery. My first attempt at capturing the image. Live stream continually stutters but I thought the effect was pretty cool!
And a clearer shot of LJ2 with the fish.
19.19 and here’s another! I can’t keep up with LJ2 at the moment! That’s EIGHT fish in total today….. so far
20.00 and Fish #NINE arrives. Granted, they haven’t been the biggest of fish today, the first was tiny!! But LJ2 has made a great effort to catch them all.
On the other hand, LM6 didn’t make much effort to get up quickly for the fish then something caught her eye. LJ2 spotted it too.
They tracked it for a short time and then LJ2 started eating the fish. It was 9 minutes after LJ2 landed before LM6 got up to ask for it.
The lighting is a bit dark so I’ve highlighted the fish. Going by the shape and pattern, I’d say a pike.
Chick #2 was first over to ask for some. It soon withdrew, allowing chick #1 to get a short feed as well. Both chicks satisfied, LM6 ate the rest.
Tuesday 28.06.22
05.50 A nice pike to start the day. The chicks watch LJ2 carry it down.
He landed 3 times before LM6 was able to take the fish.