Link to August 2022
With last year’s male LJ2 arriving on the 6th of April and partner LM6 the 10th of April, I thought I would start a thread now for the new season in case they return earlier after a successful breeding season last year. The nest and surrounding area has recently been prepared by Welsh Water for our pair’s arrival.
Background to the nest:-
Many thanks to AG who wrote this preface to the Llyn Brenig thread for us below. (I’ve just edited extra information)
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 (Blue HR7 (M) 2014 Lake Menteith, Scotland and Blue 24 (F) 2010 nr Rutland) raised a single chick here each year from 2018-2020, Z9 (F) Luned, KA5 (M) Roli and KC5 (F) respectively. Sadly, KC5 died after fledging, colliding with a wind turbine.
Neither of this breeding 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 was erected in 2022 with additional security and a streaming camera in place. A new hide was also built.
LJ2 and LM6 returned and successfully fledged 2 chicks, X6 Olwen (F) and KA9 Gelert (M)
LM6 lost her blue darvic ring on the nest. It was recently recovered by Welsh Water and kept for display in the exhibition later this year.
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_OrcBilBcFmDQ
All captures and videos ©️ NWWT, Welsh Water, Brenig Osprey Project
20.37 LM6 returns with the tail end of the fish for LJ2. He’s very happy to receive it and quickly gets up off the eggs to go and collect it.
He takes it in his beak and knocks the eggs as he walks back.
LJ2 then flies off over the water.
and lands in this tree.
20.45 LJ2 returns to the nest. So he’s either a very fast eater or he dropped the fish. LM6 turns her head quickly as if in surprise to see him!
Wednesday 26th April
Good morning Today we should see the 3rd egg arrive.
LM6 as usual on the nest overnight.
She got up at 04.28, wandered to the back and left for just under a minute.
She returned to the perch
then back onto her eggs.
LJ2 arrived at 05.28 with a gentle contact call to take over incubation.
He stayed until 06.23
then LM6 returned. LJ2 flew off then straight back to mate as she sat on the eggs. LM6 didn’t lift her tail, that 3rd egg will be already forming.
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Unknown said:3rd egg laid 12.04 p.m. - confirmed by the project on FB
Thanks for reporting the 3rd egg AG.
This is the Llyn Brenig Ospreys Facebook announcement.
They also reported that yesterday, Roli (blue KA5) 2019, visited the Clywedog nest.
LJ2 was always close by this morning. Here he is surfing onto the nest on a piece of bark at 10.05
He stayed for a few minutes, had a quick feather adjustment. LM6 had a chat with him.
10.55 he’s been asking to incubate a few times but LM6 is not for moving. (He did have an early morning shift)
At 12.04 when the 3rd egg was laid, LJ2 is by LM6’s side. He had arrived a couple of minutes earlier. As LM6 was restless, she stood up and LJ2 could see there were only2 eggs.
She made a few quiet whistles and lifted her tail. Egg number 3 had been laid.
LJ2 looked down to see the 3 eggs.LM6 looks up at LJ2 as he then flies off.
The PTZ camera had also been focusing on the nest to see LM6 lay her 3rd egg. This is the moment she stood up to see her newly laid egg with LJ2 beside her.
Settled down again after LJ2 left.
13.48 LJ2 visits the nest and this time LM6 allows him to egg sit.
LM6 gently knocks the 3rd egg as she moves away from it. It had a wee roll in the cup.
LM6 flew off to the cut tree post arrowed as LJ2 settled down for the first time on the ever growing clutch of eggs.