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
18.49 Dilys saw LM6 on the nest and joined her to ask for fish.
18.50 LM6 flew off leaving Dilys on the nest.
19.55 Does Dilys see fish down below the nest?
20.37 Dilys’ wait was rewarded as LM6 brought in a piece of fish she’d been eating.
20.38 Dilys went straight over to collect the fish.
20.40 Dilys started eating on the nest.
20.48
20.58
21.00 Dilys flew across the nest with the fish
21.02 She shook it off and flew away. It’s difficult to see the fish piece on the nest in the dark!
Looks like it’s here.
Some PTZ snaps from earlier.
12.00 LJ2
13.26 Dilys
13.32 Dilys and LM6
Approx 15.30 The cam operator found an Osprey eating on a tree post. (Magnified)
15.31. Aww, look at that wee face Mari️15.56 Mari preening
16.09 LM6
16.48 LM6 and a juvenile
The 2 adults
21.32 Looks like they’ll stay here overnight.
Monday 21 August
Good morning Dilys remembered about her leftover fish from last night and collected it this morning.
05.56
05.57
06.26 Just under half an hour later, LJ2 flew in with a small live fish.
The juveniles could be heard and Mari landed first
Followed by Dilys
06.26 LJ2 took off again, watched by his two perplexed daughters.
but thankfully he came straight back! Dilys approached him and took the fish. 06.27
06.28 Dilys to the right securing her fish
06.29 Dilys then took the fish away
watched by Mari.
07.38 Both juveniles on the nest looking for fish
It’s 50 minutes later before one arrives courtesy of LJ2
08.30 LM6 was on the nest. Dilys followed LJ2 as he passed her at the trees with his talons full but she arrived at the nest first.
Looks like a small headless fish
08.30 Dilys was asking but I don’t know if her route to the fish was blocked by LM6 and she didn’t try to go round to the right.
08.34 Dilys has continued calling. I don’t know where Mari is, can’t hear her in the background either.
08.36 LJ2 flew off leaving the fish behind
08.37 Dilys stepped forward and claimed the fish.LM6 leaves
08.38 Dilys now leaves too carrying the fish.
These crows are turning up everywhere now! It’s like they can sense the season is winding down.
08.19 On the preening perch this morning
and on the nest a few times. 12.24 the bird to the right found a scrap of fish.
12.47 They are digging and literally throwing sticks everywhere trying to find dropped slithers!
16.04 Both juveniles on the nest looking for fish. Mari must’ve just been having a wee wander earlier.
16.28 They see LM6 approaching with a fish.
Looks like she’s started it already.
Dilys takes the fish.
16.28 Then a fish drops in from above attached to LJ2. Looks like he’s had a wee meal of it too.
Busy nest
16.29 LM6 has left
16.30 Dilys then gets ready to leave
16.37 Mari still standing with LJ2
It’s not until 16.45 that she finally goes to take the fish.
16.49
16.58 She chose to eat on the nest.
Then finally left at 17.54 with a good bit of fish remaining.
18.10 Dilys returned to the nest having eaten her fish.
18.42
18.51 She saw LJ2 bringing something in and started fish calling
it was only a piece of bark though.
Dilys was none too happy and showed her annoyance by pecking at LJ2. He flinched away and no contact was made.
19.14 Dilys stayed on the nest and called one last time
19.15 Then off she flew.
Dilys was back to the nest again calling. LJ2 dropped off a long stick but it was mum, LM6 who brought Dilys a fish at 20.15.
Dilys was quick to greet LM6
20.16 Looks quite a meaty headless fish.
Dilys chose to eat on the nest.
20.40 Starting to get darker now.
20.52. For some reason Dilys stops, looks behind her
And flies off at speed. She could just about be heard alarm calling as she left.
I thought she took her fish with her but when the night cam came on, here it is lying on the nest.
20.29 On the preening perch LM6 was relaxing
20.34 She was joined by Mari
21.23 There are 3 heads there now!I think for next year, Brenig should install a longer perch so all 4 could roost together!
Tuesday 22 August
Good morning Dilys came early to the nest to recover her fish from last night.
05.45
05.50 She moved it about the nest
05.51 picked it up in her beak
05.53 then back to her talons to start eating
06.00 but only for a few minutes before taking it away
This is where she landed to eat her fish (magnified)