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
Monday 28 August
Good Morning
Carrying on from last night, Dilys ate a little more of the fish
20.26
Then she chipped gently and flew off the nest, leaving the fish behind on the nest.
She flew to this branch, stayed for 3 minutes then left for elsewhere.
Again, no one slept on the preening perch.
This morning, LJ2 came to the preening perch at 05.26
He stayed for just over half an hour, leaving around 06.00
He went to the nest to collect last night’s fish. Dilys could be heard calling from nearby.
LJ2 left with the fish
06.39 Dilys was making noise and landed on the nest
06.40 LJ2 returned with the fish
Dilys collected it
06.41 LJ2 feaked his beak on some sticks. They both left soon after.
06.47 Dilys arrived at the preening perch with the fish.
06.59 She munched into the fish
07.09
07.10 Got the the tail end and lifted it in her beak
It just sort of slipped out and she lost it. What a shame, there was still some good eating there.
07.13 She cleaned her beak and moved along the perch.
07.24
07.50 LJ2 joined her
08.11 They sat together. LJ2 was the first to go.
He left at 08.12
08.25 Dilys stayed on having a preen
09.05
09.59 Looking out in that direction over the water. I wonder if it’s south?
09.59 Having a yoga stretch10.27 Dilys finally leaves the perch.
10.43 Someone’s head at the nest perch.I’m guessing Dilys. So I’d say LJ2 on the tall tree.
11.38 The crows are ransacking the nest looking for scraps to eat. Neither Osprey seems to mind now as it’s so late in the season.
Dilys can be heard calling from the vicinity. The bird (LJ2? or Dilys? ) flies from the tall tree out over the water, circling back past the nest to the right.
10.36 The PTZ camera found LJ2 on the nest perch. I guessed the birds the wrong way round!
10.37 And Dilys on the tall tree
14.56 LJ2 arrived at the preening perch. He stayed for a couple of hours.
15.39
16.24
16.53
16.54 a wee scratch of the leg
16.54 And off he goes.
16.52 Dilys must’ve seen LJ2 flying and she flew to the nest from the tall tree calling for fish.
She had to wait while he caught it.
17.41 Aw, looking lovely Dilys
17.43 She was watching fish down below.
She got her fish delivery at 17.55. Very lively and looks a good size.She goes to meet dad
and collect her meal
17.58
18.00
18.16
19.01
Dilys finished eating at 19.08
19.09 She stepped off the fish
and went to the edge of the nest.
19.10 she flew off
19.13 A crow was soon to find the fish and was quickly eating it.
LJ2 swooped in to chase the crow off the nest. Looks like LJ2 was carrying his own fish.
19.19 Two crows now, a parent and fledgling as one was asking for food and was fed a little.
19.20 After 8 -10 chases in total, (I lost count!) LJ2 landed on the nest. A crow was sitting underneath. 19.21 One crow was still underneath the nest top and the other on the cam post. LJ2 flapped and “quacked” at the one above.
He discarded what he was carrying in favour of the larger fish.
He left with the fish at 19.29.
19.29 the crows were straight back on the nest for leftover scraps.
Brenig FB put a video of the crow chasing episode to show LJ2’s great flying skills.
Link Here
I’ve been keeping an eye on their FB to see if they mentioned that LM6 and Mari had left but not officially. It has though been said by the public in some comments under videos.
Tuesday 29 August
Good morning Both birds still around.
Dilys was on the nest at 06.21 for 6 minutes.
06.23
06.27
LJ2 on the preening perch from 06.12 for half an hour.
06.42
He left at 06.43