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
14.44 Dilys returned 5 minutes later
14.56 Mari joined her sister.15.03 They fish called and waited and LJ2 soon came to the nest with his headless fish.
15.04 Mari just happened to be next to where he landed and took the fish.
15.06 Dilys came too close behind Mari so she pecked at her to warn her off
15.12 Mari started eating the fish.15.40 16.13 Dilys snatched the fish with her beak but Mari held on with her talons and retained the fish.
16.17 Mari continued eating. Dilys left and returned to the nest a few times still asking for fish..
16.25
It wasn’t until 17.31 before Dilys got her chance to eat the fish after Mari had stepped off it.
Mari flew off the nest watched by Dilys.
17.32 Dilys picked up the fish. (I’ve brightened this photo to show the fish more clearly.)
17.46
18.0518.06 Dilys stepped off the fish end.
18.10 she flew off the nest.
LM6 ended up collecting the very last of the fish that Dilys had left and fed Dilys with it again. 18.36
20.18 Dilys was on the nest when LM6 brought her a new, whole fish
Dilys was keen to collect it20.2220.46
Mari and LM6 had joined her 21.07 R21.07 Dilys stepped off the fish.
Mari quickly took it
21.08 Dilys flew off and LM6 stayed with Mari.
21.10
21.25 It was getting dark and Mari decided to leave the fish.
21.26 LM6 made sure no one returned before she collected the fish.
She left at 21.27
10.00 Empty nest but at least one head on the perch.
Sunday 6 August
Good morning Looked like the two adult birds slept overnight on the preening perch.
I could see shadow of them in the dark and here they are as the daylight forms.04.46
05.16
The juvenile on the nest perch left at 06.14 after a wing and tail stretch.
07.44 Dilys was first on the nest, announcing her arrival.
She just stayed a few minutes then left. 08.51 Dilys returned a couple of times and on the second occasion, LJ2 arrived with a large clump of grass.
Mari flew up from the perch to join Dilys in telling LJ2 that they’d like a fish.
09.09 The juveniles didn’t have to wait long as LM6 soon arrived with a large, very lively trout. LM6 is such a good provider. Dilys takes the fish from LM609.09 All the family together.
09.24 Dilys took a wee while to begin eating as the fish wriggled and flapped. However, she has learned how to hold tight.
09.51 Mari stayed close by10.1110.11 Dilys had had enough to eat and stepped off.
then flew off the nest
It’s a bit windy out there today. Mari went to collect collect the fish.
A gust of wind caught her tail and she had to steady herself.
10.11 Mari started eating there then LM6 arrived on the nest. She’d been watching from the perch.Mari quickly moved her fish further away.10.16 10.5410.56 Having had enough, Mari left the nest.
10.58 LM6 picked up the fish and flew off.
12.12 At least one juvenile can be heard in the background as LM6 returns with the fish. She lands and makes a couple of contact chips.
12.23 No one comes to the nest as LM6 patiently waits.
12.26 Another look around then she leaves. Again, a juvie is heard nearby.