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.
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
07.36 Mari was on the nest when LJ2 flew in with a fine headless fish.
07.37
07.38 Chipping could be heard off nest.
07.39 LJ2 left and all was quiet. Mari started eating.
07.43 Dilys then joined Mari
07.46 Mari left with her fish
A wet looking Dilys.
Dilys was treated to a fish at 08.15 from LM6.
Dilys quickly took the fish.
She didn’t stay on the nest and flew off with the fish at 08.17.
12.32 With such long spells of inactivity on the nest, the crows have almost moved in!
They soon dispersed as LM6 swooped in to chase them.
but 2 jumped back up to the nest as she flew on.
LM6 had to come back to chase them again.
This time she landed.
12.36 However, as soon as LM6 was gone, the crows were back again and this time they brought one more!
16.23 The youngsters have returned. They both had a good sized headless fish this morning plus Dilys had the small piece of last night’s fish too.
16.30 Dilys left to join LM6 on the perch
then she went back to the nest. 16.53
That fish hasn’t arrived yet. Dilys and Mari have been on and off the nest. Still waiting.
18.53 Dilys concentrating on something.
19.22 They’ve been calling and looking all around. No one has been on the preening perch for 45 minutes so hopefully the parents are preparing fish to bring to the nest.
19.39 It was LM6 who came in with a fish.
Both chicks went forward
There were wings everywhere
LM6 was sandwiched by her two youngsters.
LM6 was finally free!
LJ2 alarm called off nest. LM6 responded and immediately flew off.
19.39 The girls watched LM6 fly off but they stayed on the nest.
19.49 Dilys has a wee look at the fish
Mari starts flapping
Dilys calls
Birds can be seen in the distance
Mari has a wee look at the fish
19.41
Mari is thinking about it
19.42 She had decided to take the fish. Dilys didn’t challenge.
19.45 Mari started eating on the nest.
19.49
19.51 Dilys is fish calling, Mari still eating
20.11 Mari takes her fish away, leaving Dilys shouting for one too.
20.44 Dilys stayed on the nest fish calling. Darkness drew in.
20.46 She looked upwards then flew off
20.49 She returned about 3 minutes later
20.53 She only stayed for another four minutes then left to roost.
LM6 had been on the preening perch. She left at 20.49
LJ2 arrived to take her place
21.08 It looks like 7B6, Mari has now joined him.
Wednesday 23 AugustGood afternoon
Dilys was on the nest early calling for fish. 06.06
06.57 LM6 flew on to chase off a crow
06.59 The two girls together calling for fish. They were on and off the nest until LM6 arrived at 10.02 with a fish.
10.02 Dilys was closest to LM6 when she landed and took the fish
10.03 Dilys starts eating with Mari watching.
10.23 Dilys takes the fish off the nest.