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

  • Both birds chose to eat on the nest.19.55


    19.59 Dilys finished first. She stepped off her fish.

    19.59 She cleaned her beak then flew off leaving Mari eating.

  • 20.13 LJ2 was quick to come and collect Dilys’ discarded fish.


    20.14


    20.16 Dilys came back 

    20.18 Mari left with her fish.


    20.18 She took it to the tall tree.

  • 20.21 Dilys left the nest soon after. Mari could be seen on the tree in the distance eating her fish.


    20.30 LM6 was enjoying a fish for herself on the preening perch.

  • Saturday 12 August

    Good morning Grinning It’s a blustery, rainy one today. One of the juveniles has been on the nest early asking for fish. 05.35 

    LM6 joined her and was picking up leftover scraps from the nest. Those juveniles are messy eaters! 05.47 

    05.52

    07.28 LM6 returned with a live fish

    07.28 The handover wasn’t very good and the fish flapped off the nest


    07.28 


    07.57 Luckily for the juvenile (I can’t make out the darvic with the rain) LJ2 had been fishing as well.


    07.58 Another live fish to handle. It flapped as well


    07.58 But a firm grip secured it for breakfast.


    08.31 I think it’s Dilys. 


    I’m out for the rest of the day, BBL

  • Fish delivery at 17.29 from LM6 to Dilys


    17.30 Mari arrives


    17.31 

    Mari had stayed on the nest with Dilys as she ate

    17.55 Dilys left the nest with the fish.

  • Fish from LJ2 at 19.53


    19.54 Both juveniles on the nest but no takers.

    19.55 LJ2 gathered the fish


    and took it away again.

  • 20.11 LJ2 returns with the fish after he’s eaten some.

    Mari was ready to receive it this time.


    20.12


    20.20

    Mari ate some then flew off the nest with her fish at 20.55.

  • Sunday 13 August

    Good morning Grinning Dilys had been on the nest early asking for fish and got her wish at 07.07 as LJ2 flew in with a freshly caught trout.



    It was very lively as Dily tried to take it




    She did well though, holding tight

    07.08

    07.12 She began her feed on the nest

    07.40

    07.42 Dilys took her fish off the nest to eat further. 

  • 07.59 Mari joined LJ2 and LM6 on the nest to see if there was any fish.  LJ2 was cleaning up scraps.


    09.30 Mari returned later and LJ2 brought in a fish for her.


    Mari dived in to take the fish.


    She took a hold of LJ2’s toe first


    Once she dropped that she got the fish



    09.31 Within a minute of taking the fish, Mari was on her favourite tree eating it.

  • The nest has been pretty quiet today. One of the juveniles came later to have a quick preen.


    She left then returned to sort out more feathers.


    15.29 After that, she lay down.


    16.03 She later got up, gave a few whistles then flew off.