Link to JULY 2022
Our Osprey family taken on 7th July, 2022.
Our chicks on 31st July, 2022. Olwen flying in to join her family.
This was a new nest erected for 2022 season to replace the one vandalised in 2021 after this pair and just laid their first egg.
Our male, blue LJ2 (2018 South Argyll) arrived on 6th April 2022.
Our female, blue LM6 (2018 Menteith, Stirling) arrived on 10th April 2022.
This is our young adult osprey pair’s first successful breeding season.
First egg 25th April. Second egg 28th April. Third egg 1st May.
Eggs hatched 1st June, 3rd June, 5th June (3rd chick died on day of hatching)
Chicks ringed ringed 4th July, chick #1 blue X6 female, chick #2 blue KA9 male.
Chicks named 7th July - X6 Olwen - KA9 Gelert as chosen by public vote on Brenig Facebook.
8th July, it was noticed LM6’s blue darvic ring had split and fallen off her leg onto the nest on 7th July. She now only has a silver BTO ring on her right leg.
The first born chick, X6/Olwen fledged at 55 days old at 12.45 on 26th July.
The second born chick KA9/Gelert fledged at 55 days old at 07.29 on 28th July.
Today on 1st August, the chicks are 61 and 59 days old respectively.
Brenig Osprey Project is a collaboration between Dŵr Cymru/Welsh Water, North Wales Wildlife Trust and the RSPB.
Link to northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk
FINALLY A FISH FOR GELERT!!
20.18 LM6 delivers
Gelert is still eating on the nest just now.
20.47 Gelert leaves the nest to go to roost. A fish for breakfast tomorrow!
Night cam on 21.10
Sunday, 21st August
Good morning all. Day cam on at 05.35, last night’s fish still there.
Osprey calling heard and first to the nest is Gelert but he chooses to land on the cam pole. Approx 06.07.
He calls then is silent then calls again and within a minute Olwen lands on the nest. She goes straight to the leftover fish.
Calling is heard in the distance. The juveniles call, listen and flap a bit. Olwen flies off with fish and chipping is then heard. (LJ2?) 06.14
Olwen flies around the nest, over the water and back to the trees to settle on a lower branch.
Then Gelert comes down to the nest.
Today Olwen is 81 days old and Gelert 79 days.
What a beautiful, calm morning. The water is so still.
Around 06.48 an Osprey can be seen sitting quietly preening in a nearby tree. A noisy corvid suddenly appears and flushes 2 ospreys from the trees, LM6 and Gelert. LM6 landed on the perch, whilst Gelert flew to the trees then the nest.
It looked like the corvid was after Olwen’s fish as it appeared below where she was sitting. Olwen stayed put, the corvid flew nearer to her and she flapped and shouted to protect her fish. The corvid persisted and Olwen flew off, followed by the corvid.
LM6 and Gelert watching Olwen and the corvid.Olwen and the corvid flew off, Gelert left the nest and flew to where Olwen had been eating, the corvid turned back and flew towards Gelert who then gave it chase! LM6 sat on her perch and just watched it all unfold!
Both young ospreys ended up flying over the water a few times and it looked like Olwen still had her fish! Hurray!
07.23 and peace had resumed, LJ2 flew onto the nest with a stick. He did some housekeeping and nest scraping.
It was lovely to see the 2 adult birds back together. LJ2 stayed for around 7 or 8 minutes, looking out over the water, LM6 preening on the perch.
At one point a robin started singing and it was such a lovely, peaceful scene.
LJ2 looking good - approx 4 years 3 months old. Ringed 10/07/18 South Argyll.
Just before15.00 LJ2 brings a fresh pike to Gelert.
Gelert takes his fish, mantles and calls excitedly.
He takes it to the edge of the nest still mantling and calling.
“
He stands for a few seconds
then flies off with his fish into the woods.
Around 18.24 both chicks are on the nest calling as they see one of their parents coming in with a fish. Gelert nearest the camera.
As the adult comes closer into view, you can see it is a large live fish.
The fish is curling and flapping here.And it’s mum, LM6, who lands with a very big fish. Olwen is closest to it.
Olwen goes for the fish, Gelert doesn’t challenge.
She moves the fish to the edge of the nest but loosens her grip.
The fish starts flapping on the nest and Olwen hurriedly catches it in her beak.
She takes a tighter hold with her talons.
Olwen starts eating the fish on the nest (perhaps too heavy to carry off whilst whole). Gelert stays on the nest fish calling.