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
Gelert manages to take the fish and proceeds to eat it. LM6 stands beside her son, she looks better here than in the previous photos.
LM6 has a preen as she waits.
10.21 Olwen arrives on the nest.
Gelert continues eating
Eventually, LM6 and Olwen leave the nest. Gelert is still eating, this fish is going to take a long time to consume!
Karen W said:That's very good news, thanks Glider. And yes, we shouldn't but we do get very fond of them lol
Totally Karen!
Gelert takes a breather and at just after11.00, LM6 flies in with another fish in her talons.
It was a much smaller effort this time! Gelert started calling and Olwen could be heard too from presumably the cam pole.
LM6 started eating the fish
soon Gelert was over asking to be fed after abandoning his!Around 11.25, Olwen joined the nest.
she promptly took the small fish from LM6.
LM6 then cleaned her beak and left her 2 chicks with 2 fish.
LM6 returned to land on the perch.
Gelert then flew off and LM6 flew down to pick up the large fish in her talons.
JillR said:About 11am LM6 returned with a smaller fish. She waited for a while, then started eating. Gelert then abandoned his huge fish and was fed by mum from the smaller fish!
Many thanks Jill, my post has crossed over with yours. Takes me so long to put photos up!
Of course, when Olwen finishes her tiny fish, she goes over to LM6 to be fed from the big fish!
LM6 gives Olwen a good feed before Olwen takes the fish for herself.
LM6 waits again until Olwen is finished before getting the fish back.
LM6 fed for an hour before LJ2 came to the nest for his share. This is the fish that just keeps giving!
LJ2 took it off the nest.
Around 15.00 both chicks land on the nest fish calling to LJ2 as he arrives holding something in his talons. (Gelert nearest to camera)
It looks like the remainder of this morning’s fish.
Gelert is over first to take it.
He mantles and protects it before tucking in.
Gelert ate the fleshy part, leaving some skin attached to the tail fin. He struggled to eat that so left it on the nest whilst he fiddled with some sticks before flying off.
Olwen found the remains and got any remaining flesh out of it but the skin was so tough to pull, she had to give up too.
She left it behind and flew off.
Olwen came back into the nest to try and eat the fish skin - unsuccessfully again. LJ2 later joined her and started eating it. What an ear bashing he got from Olwen as she wanted it back then just kept screaming for fish! LJ2 flew off to look for his ear defenders!