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
LJ2 on incubation duties.
14.33 LM6 returns with some moss and small sticks.
She ever so gently settles down on the eggs.
17.16, LM6 starts calling excitedly from the nest as she sees LJ2 coming in with a nice sized headless fish.
She goes over to collect it.
She struggled to get a good grip
but must’ve been satisfied she’d managed and flew off with it.LJ2 is in charge of the eggs now. The 3rd egg has a part that is less speckled so should be easier to identify.
Alternative views of the fish delivery from the PTZ camera.
LM6 trying to secure the fish in her talons.
18.34 LM6 returns with the leftovers of her fish.
LJ2 isn’t interested in it and flies off.
LM6 has difficulty moving the fish around the nest as it’s partially skewed on a stick.
She tries to drag the fish it but it won’t come. She has to move back and use her beak to release it and regrip with her other talons.
She has a couple more nibbles then leaves the fish on the nest.
She settles on her eggs.
In the meantime, LJ2 had started chasing crows in the trees behind the nest.
19.44 LJ2 returns to the nest. He sees the fish and pulls it out from under LM6 as she is partially covering it.
And he’s off for his supper.
Thursday 27th April
Good morning LM6 slept overnight on the nest with a quick fly off approx 01.50 for a minute. At 05.20 she was calling and LJ2 flew in to take over incubation.
06.11 LJ2 called out and LM6 flew onto the nest.
She found a fish tail on the nest that LJ2 must’ve brought back last night.
LJ2 flew off. A few moments later LM6 flew off too to eat the t fish tail.
LJ2 quickly flew back onto the nest to safe guard the eggs.
He’s currently incubating just now. 06.44
LM6 shortly returned at 06.54.
LJ2 flew off straight away to chase crows, landed on a lower branch of a tree then flew up to rest the the top. (circled)
09.10 LJ2 flies in with another piece of bark to add to their collection. He then chips softly asking to go on the eggs.
LM6 takes a break.
After LM6 returns to brood, LJ2 is back to the nest a few times offering his help. 10.26 he does the “place a piece of bark on my mate’s wing” trick to try to encourage LM6 to move!
It didn’t work straight away then he asked nicely and LM6 got up.