LLYN BRENIG - MARCH/APRIL 2023

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

  • LM6 takes some time out on the preening perch


    whilst LJ2 sits on the nest in the sunshine. 

    15.46 LM6 flies onto the nest


    and LJ2 leaves.


    LM6 back on the eggs.


    LJ2 back on the preening perch.

  • Thanks Glider for all the updates. Nice clear captures here and lovely to see the adults taking turns incubating their eggs.
  • 18.26 a wee bit of evening sunshine as the birds are together on the nest. Still windy.


    LM6 didn’t let LJ2 on the eggs that time so he came back at 18.56 carrying a piece of bark which landed on LM6’s back.


    She got hit on the head


    LJ2 then fiddled about with another piece in front of LM6, his tail hitting her back.


    Another piece of bark was placed on LM6’s back.


    She’d had enough and got up and left!

    All the pieces of bark fell into the nest cup on top of the eggs.


    LJ2 had to move the bark away before he could sit on the eggs.


    He may have trodden on the eggs as he tried to place the bark away from the cup.


    Settled at last.

  • LM6 was back on the eggs within 15 minutes. The nest is ever decreasing in size with all the bark LJ2 has brought! 


    21.09 LJ2 drops by before the night cam switches on.

  • Monday 1st May, Good Morning Smiley LM6 incubated all night, joined by LJ2 on the perch at 04.53.


    LM6 then left the nest just before 05.00 and LJ2 flew off the perch, out of sight and onto the nest to cover.


    Day cam came on at 05.19 with LJ2 still on the nest.


    LM6 returned at 06.57 to take over duties.

  • 08.23 Bit of a drizzly, damp morning as LM6 was on the eggs.


    Changeover to LJ2 at 09.26.


    Changeover to LM6 10.22 The weather is drying up. LM6 sorts out her feathers whilst sitting.


    The birds are roughly changing over every hour. 11.30 LJ2 back for his shift.


    Everything is dry now but the wind is picking up.

  • I forgot to start a new thread this morning - better late than never!

    **********THREAD CLOSED**********

    Link to May 2023