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
10.22 Mari walks away from the fish
She feaks her beak against sticks on the nest
LJ2 comes for the fish. Dilys is on her way too.
LJ2 leaves with the fish, Dilys just behind him. (Her wing seen)
She almost follows him
Then lands on the nest.
Dilys ate until 11.54 then stepped off the fish.
She feaked her beak on some sticks
Then flew off at 11.56
Dilys returned to the nest at 12.17
12.21 After a few minutes she picked up the fish again and resumed eating.
12.48
12.55 Dilys stepped away from the fish and feaked her beak on sticks on the nest.
She flew off at 12.58
The chicks have been getting familiar with their parents’ favourite resting spots.
Mari joined them on the preening perch at 12.08.
15.31 LM6 landed on the nest perch.
15.47 Dilys arrived back on the nest to tackle the end of the fish again.
16.10She left at 16.16 and returned again at 16.23
16.29Mari arrived and took the fish end from Dilys. 16.32
16.35 At one point, she flew up still holding the fish and hovered over the nest. She came back down, misjudging her landing and went down past the side of the nest.
She managed to flap and climb back up still holding the fish.
16.35 LM6 joined Mari on the nest
Mari discarded the fish and left at 17.06
17.10 LM6 took the fish and started eating it before flying off with it a minute later.
Dilys was on the nest. LM6 could be heard intruder calling in the distance, Dilys lay down to pancake.
18.50 LM6 came to the nest to defend it.
LM6 flew off and Dilys stayed there. Once the threat was over, LM6 returned to the perch.
19.30
19.47 The intruder returned, LM6 and LJ2 flew to the nest. Dilys half got up when LJ2 arrived then lay down again.
19.55 things had quietened again and LJ2 flew off.
20.10 Current scene. Mari has joined Dilys on the nest and LM6 is on the perch.
Glider said:
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Gosh, just look at Mari's talons - glad I'm not a fish!
20.31 Dilys was still laying on the nest when LJ2 arrived with a small fish in his left talons.
She got up fish calling ( she has a quiet wee squeaky voice, not like other osplets I know!)
Dilys grabbed LJ2’s talons initially and when she let go, she fell back and landed on her bottom!
20.32 Dilys got up and quickly took the fish as Mari had arrived behind her.
She started eating straight away.Mari was calling to LJ2 “Where’s my fish?” 20.32 LJ2 took off with Mari still calling to him. She doesn’t have a big voice either!
20.35 Mari watched every bite Dilys took as she called for fish herself.
20.45 There goes the tail
This size is so much easier for the young ospreys to eat whilst they are still learning. They struggle with the skin on larger fish.