LLYN BRENIG - AUGUST 2023 to end of FEBRUARY 2024

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 gestation)

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. Purple heart


 
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

  • 16.09 LM6 and the 2 juveniles flew onto the nest as LJ2 brought in a live perch.


    16.10 He landed with it but took off again before anyone took the fish.

    16.23 LJ2 left the nest for 13 minutes, then returned with the fish which he had now started eating.


    16.24 The fish was taken away and returned again


    16.25 the juveniles were calling for the fish but didn’t approach to take it from LJ2


    16.29 LJ2 started eating the fish on the nest


    16.31 Mari found a scrap that had been dropped


    16.32 LJ2 held onto the fish


    16.33 Mari called for the fish again



    16.34 Dilys flew down to the perch


    16.37 LJ2 continued eating as Mari called


    16.57 by the time Mari finally approached to take the fish, only the tail end was left.


    16.57 she grabbed his foot as she tried to take it.





    As Mari tried to transfer her talon onto the fish, she caught LJ2’s talons 


    They were still entangled


    Mari finally breaking free and clasping the fish


    16.58 Mari flies off with her tiny snack. A lot of effort for so little. 

  • LJ2 brought in another, larger fish at 19.02

    19.05 Dilys took this one


    19.47 She ate on the nest


    20.27


    20.41, she finally shook off the fish and walked away.


    Mari was calling from the nest perch as LJ2 arrived and took the remainder of the fish away. 

  • 21.10 LM6 flew onto the nest


    21.11 She stayed for a minute then looked down to the perch and left. She may have flown down to join Mari who was calling.


    21.22 LJ2 arrived with the fish end.

    21.23 He left the nest after about a minute and flew to the preening perch to eat the rest of the fish. 

  • Sunday 20 August

    Good morning Grinning  Today Mari is 83 days and Dilys 85 days old.

    They were both around the nest early this morning and it was Dilys who claimed the first fish, delivered by LM6 at 07.10.




    LM6 left soon after delivery

    07.11 Dilys started eating straight away

    07.15 


    07.15 Mari left

    07.19


    07.21 Mari returned 


    07.24


    Dilys ate a little while longer then left the nest with her fish at 07.49.

  • 07.49 Mari decided to stay on the nest calling for fish.

    08.12 She settled down


    08.14

    08.15 Mari quickly got up as she saw LJ2 incoming with a fish for her

    She took it cleanly first go


    mantling with her fish

    08.16 Fish secured in her talons, Mari left the nest.


    08.17 LJ2 did a bit of stick tidying

    08.18 LM6 joined him. She tidied up scraps of fish.


    08.19 Looking out together. 


    How much longer will we see them like this? The days are ticking by. 

  • Maybe they are in no hurry to leave this harmonious nest and plenty of fish from devoted parents!

     

     2013 photos & vids here

    eff37 on Flickr

  • WendyBartter said:
    Maybe they are in no hurry to leave this harmonious nest and plenty of fish from devoted parents!


    Haha, you could be right there Wendy!! These juveniles have been so lucky with the care and attention they’ve received. 

  • The nest had been pretty quiet after Dilys and Mari left with their fish. LM6 was on for periods and also the crows.

    08.56 

    10.16


    11.06


    12.23

    14.26


    14.40 LM6 chased the crow away.


    14.40 One of the juveniles joined her on the nest.

  • 16.00 Later both juveniles came to the nest as LM6 was seen with a fish. She landed on the nest with it.

    16.01 Dilys took the fish. LM6 feaking her beak.


    16.02


    16.05


    16.11 Dilys stopped eating and both juvies were looking up. Chipping could be heard in the distance.


    Both juvies started flapping and calling


    16.12 An Osprey flew by and landed on the tall tree.


    16.13 The juvies pancaked. Dilys on top of her fish.


    16.14 An Osprey flew from the right towards the water.


    16.16 Dilys started eating her fish again. 


    16.32 Dilys then left the nest with her fish. 

  • Mari left after a short while but soon returned to the nest.

    16.58


    16.59 She looked around for scraps


    17.09 Mari then lay down for a bit.


    18.26 it took about an hour and a half until a meal arrived for Mari. She got up calling as LJ2 was flying in over the water.


    18.26 LJ2 came to the nest with a headless fish


    Mari quickly took the fish 


    18.27 LJ2 left Mari with the fish in her grasp.


    18.29 She took it elsewhere to eat.