Link to first page opener - here
Link to June 2023 here
Recap:-
LJ2 returned 31 March 2023
LM6 returned 4 April 2023
Egg No. 1 laid 20 April - Hatched 27 May (37 days)
Egg No. 2 laid 23 April - Hatched 29 May (36 days)
Egg No. 3 laid 26 April - Hatched 1 June (37 days) Sadly, this little chick died on 3rd June. It coincided with LJ2 having a leg injury and unable to fish at the time. I don’t know if this was the sole reason, part of the reason or something else. RIP little one
The family of 5 for a couple of days. Bob 3, RIP, in between #1 and #2
Four weeks later, our two thriving youngsters, #1 and #2 (36 and 34 days as at 01/07/23)
All captures and videos ©️ NWWT, Welsh Water, Brenig Osprey Project
18.23 LM6 flies in with a nice fish.
The chicks come over to be fed.18.29 LJ2 arrives on the perch.
19.44 LJ2 leaves
20.12 LM6 is still pulling at that fish
LM6 was left with a long straggly piece of skin
She managed to swallow it all around 20.30.
Later, LM6 was on the nest with the chicks, she started chipping and flapping, looking upward - 21.24
21.31 Skydancing could be heardLJ2 landed with a headless fish
He started flapping and chipping alongside LM6.
LJ2 then quickly left, with his fish.He could be seen in the distance chasing another bird. (Magnified)
Things seemed to quieten down after this.
Tuesday 11 July
Good morning a very wet morning indeed. The rain has been heavy.
LJ2 didn’t return to the nest perch after his late night intruder chase but brought the headless fish to the nest at 04.50.
He released the fish, a chick picked it up.
The chick then dropped it and LM6 collected it.
04.53 She began the feed.
05.41 At the end of the feed, one of the chicks took the straggly skin.
05.43 LM6 feaked her beak. I’ve never noticed before how she uses her tongue at the same time.
05.45 She left the chick with the skin
and flew off.
07.01 LM6 returned to the nest and collected the straggly skin/tail end of the fish. It was too much for the chick to handle.
She swallowed the last piece at 07.23
08.59 The chicks were drying off having a preen. LM6 was on the preening perch and LJ2 joined the chicks on the nest perch.
11.25 The family altogether. 7B5 stretches out her wings.
They all stay here for around an hour. LJ2 visits the nest and returns to the perch.
LJ2 leaves at 12.21.
13.14 LJ2 returns with a fish. LM6 is right on his tail.
13.15 LM6 takes the fish
The chick on the rIght behind LM6 then takes the fish from her.
13.17 The chick on the left then takes the fish from its sibling13.29 I think it’s 7B5 with the fish. She keeps it for over 10 minutes before LM6 is able to take it back.
The feed begins
and finishes with LM6 swallowing the tail at 14.10.
14.57 LM6 does some nest tidying
and stays on the nest for a bit with the chicks.
15.59 Synchroised preening
16.21 As the rain starts again, LM6 returns to the nest to shelter the chicks.
The rain passes, LM6 leaves and returns later with a large clump of fresh moss.
She then repositioned a large stick.LM6 flies to the nest perch for a bit then returns to the nest.
18.50 LJ2 soon arrives with a headless fish.
18.50 LM6 takes the fish before a chick gets it first this time!Both chicks are over for a feed. They are somewhere behind the moss hedge and LM6! Keek a boo!