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
The preening perch has been well used today.
08.44 LJ2 and LM6
09.05 Mari
09.49 Mari then joins LJ2
11.30 LJ2 on his own. Handsome as ever.13.51 LM6 back with LJ2
14.27 LJ2 again
15.30 LM6 joins LJ2. He raises his wings as she lands.
LJ2 hasn’t been sat here continuously, he does fly off but keeps coming back!
The nest has been quiet for long spells. Someone was on the perch.
15.42 The juveniles were asking LJ2 for fish when he landed and they were both there. 15.42 They send him off with his ears ringing,
He returned with a fish at 17.32
It was Dilys who took it.
17.53 Mari’s shouting that she needs a fish too.
18.23 Mari waits patiently as Dilys eats. Then when Dilys stops and stands still, Mari approaches her and takes the fish.
18.42 Mari eats for just over 15 minutes then decides to take the fish away.
Saturday 5 August
Good morning One of the chicks roosted overnight on the perch. LM6 was first to visit the nest this morning at 05.12.
She picked up the tiniest of scraps of fish that were lying about.
05.24 LM6 was joined by LJ2 then one of the juveniles and when the second juvenile arrived, the whole family was briefly there.
The weather is quite choppy this morning, rain and strong wind.
06.20 Dilys was on the nest when LM6 flew in with a headless fish.
Mari quickly flew to the nest as Dilys took the fish.
06.40 LJ2 then flew in with a fish
Mari grabbed it, getting LJ2’s foot as well
LJ2 lifted his leg up and kept rising
Mari let go and LJ2 left with the fish. Mari was left calling.
She stayed beside Dilys as her sister ate.
06.49 Then Dilys stepped off the fish and Mari was able to take it.
Dilys flew to the perch where LM6 was sitting.
06.5007.12 LM6 joined Mari on the nest.Mari ate until 07.44
She lifted her wings and the wind carried her up
and down back onto the nest. Mari feaked her beak against some sticks then left. 07.45
Once Mari was gone, LM6 then went to collect the fish she had originally caught.
07.47 She took it away to have another feed.
That’s everyone had fish this morning.
07.48 LM6 had hardly left the nest when Dilys arrived. She started fish calling.
07.49 LM6 being the great mum that she is, responded straight away and brought her fish to the nest.
She ended up sharing her fish, feeding Dilys. These two juvies are so pampered here!08.23 LM6 shook off the fish
She cleaned her beak and left.
08.24 LM6 flew off and Dilys was left shouting “Who’s going to feed me now?! “
08.25 Less than half a minute later, LJ2 landed directly on the piece of fish that was left.
08.27 He left with it and came back a couple of times. Mari had flown onto the nest as well. She took her opportunity and collected the fish.
08.35 She and Dilys stood together and looked around for a wee while before starting to eat. 08.4108.56 Mari eventually took the skin/tail that was left off the nest.
The weather is just horrible this morning.
09.19 LM6 and Dilys
11.12 Later, Dilys returned to the nest alone.
She stayed for over an hour resting.
13.46 LJ2 arrived with a headless fish.
13.48 He made some contact chips and looked around and waited.
As Dilys was seen flying in from the water, LJ2 took off with the fish.
Photos taken 2 seconds apart
13.49 LM6 joined Dilys
They waited together until LM6 left at 14.30
Dilys was still calling for fish then left at 16.39. A adult alarmed called, Dilys then left the nest alarm calling as she flew.