Link to first page opener - here
Link to July 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, passed away on 3rd June.
Chicks ringed 7 July
No. 1 - 7B5 42 days old (Female) 1755g
No. 2 - 7B6 40 days old (Female) 1730g
Chicks named 17 July after Brenig FB vote
7B5 - Dilys ( Meaning perfect, true, reliable)
7B6 - Mari (Meaning Star of the Sea) (Thank you Sandra for finding out the meanings of these beautiful Welsh names)
Chicks fledged 23 July
Mari first, (16.22) followed by big sister, Dilys 4 minutes later. (16.26) (55 and 57 days old respectively)
Today 1 August - Dilys is 66 days old and Mari is 64 days old.
It has been a wonderful month for this family. A plentiful supply of fish saw the chicks grow quickly into juvenile ospreys. As did the youngsters of last year, these two took turns to feed and with LM6 fishing as well now, they have often had a fish each at the same time. Mari, has turned out to be the faster developer of the two, practising fishing off various perches on 30 July (aged 63 days old) and on 31 July she started taking the fish off the nest to eat.
The next few weeks will see Dilys and Mari practise and hone their skills in preparation for becoming independent birds and tackling their long migration ahead of them.
Dilys and Mari at the beginning of the month
and now
LM6 and LJ2 getting some chill time together.
All captures and videos ©️ NWWT, Welsh Water, Brenig Osprey Project
Karen W said:What a wonderful OP Glider, thank you. Also for all your hard work so far reporting on this wonderful family - all very much appreciated.
Hi Karen, you’re very welcome. So many milestones to report now! This really is a lovely nest to watch.
Tuesday 1 August
Good morning Dilys slept overnight (standing) on the nest, left at 05.11 then returned to tackle the fish skin on the nest from last night.
05.33 She did a wee dance about with the skin in her talons, chipping as she went!She jumped aboutover and backup and downIt lasted for over half a minute.
Was Dilys playing with the skin?!
05.34 Mari arrived a minute after Dilys’ initial landing
This prompted Dilys to start eating the skin.
Mari watched as Dilys continued
05.36 05.37Mari then left
Dilys carried on, further stretching the skin into a more manageable shape to swallow
She was able to swallow the ribbon of skin at 05.42.
She feaked her beak.
Went to the edge of the nest, made 3 short calls, another quick swipe of her beak against the sticks, waited a few seconds then flew off.
Both LJ2 and LM6 have been replenishing the nesting materials. These two have worked really hard maintaining and improving the nest this year.
*I can see the difference to how the nest has grown from last year.
06,35 LJ2 with some grasses.
06.48 LM6 with a bulging branch
*For reference - this is the nest on 1 August 2022
08.28 Both chicks on the nest fish calling
08.48 Mari had left and Dilys was still there when LJ2 arrived with a fish.
Dilys went to take it.08.48 Here comes Mari08.59 Dilys feeds watched by Mari09.00 Then LM6 arrives with a headless fish she’s caught.Mari looks over
then turns away 09.02 LM6 goes beside Dilys to eat the fish.09.04 Mari soon comes over and LM6 starts feeding her.09.05 Mari then takes the fish to feed herself.
09.21 The girls eating side by side
09.33 Since Dilys started first, she filled up first and stepped off the fish.
then flew off.09.55 Mari ate for a bit longer
Then she secured her talons on the fish.
09.56 And took off with it.
10.01 LJ2 came to collect the fish Dilys left and lifted it with his beak
and left still holding it there.
The nest has been pretty quiet today. The PTZ camera found the adult ospreys.
08.36 LJ2 preparing his fish before taking it to the nest.
09.28. LM6
12.4914.30
15.27 Dilys joins LM6 on the nest. She asks for fish.
16.58 Later Dilys returned to the nest. Looks like Mari on the perch.
17.06 Dilys decided to lie down and was soon calling for fish.
17.32 LM6 flew in with a fish for Dilys.
17.36 Mari came byShe waited and watched for a few minutes then left at 17.39
Dilys continued enjoying her feed. Mari returned again at 18.37
19.02 She waited until Dilys was ready to leave the fish and step off.
19.03 Mari stepped in and collected the fish.
19.03 Dilys left the nest, flying to the perch as Mari began her feed.
19.06 Mari decided to take the fish off nest to eat.
19.32 LJ2 visited to do some tidying, Dilys came to the nest
19.48 She appreciated his hard work and had a lie down on the soft bedding.
20.42 Dilys was disturbed when LM6 arrived with more nesting materials.
20.42 Mari then landed carrying a tiny wee piece of fish in her right talons.Looking good Mari
20.44 Mari took the fish piece to the side of the nest to eat.
20.45 It was a long piece of skin with tail attached. Mari then carried it to the other side of the nest next to LM6.
Mari still struggled with the fish skin.
20.47 She left it and flew off.
20.47 LM6 took over watched by Dilys.