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
Some PTZ cam shots from today. 07.58 LM6 and LJ2
08.19 Mari
09.37 LM6 and LJ2
12.17 LM6
15.01 LJ2
16.30 LJ2 and Mari
17.47 LJ2 landed with a fresh fish
He waited on the nest for a few seconds. A juvenile was calling and flapping from the perch.
17.47 Dilys flew up and landed17.47 She quickly took the fish
17.48 LJ2 flew off and Dilys started eating.
17.50
18.03
18.08 Dilys took the fish off nest to eat.
19.15 Just over an hour later, both juveniles were back on the nest calling for fish. I wonder if Dilys managed to eat all of hers?
19.29 Within fifteen minutes, LM6 arrived with a fish. Mari took the fish.
19.31 LM6 left and Mari opted to fly off with her supper leaving Dilys on the nest.
19.52 Dilys wasn’t to go without supper either. She suddenly started calling and flew up from the nest perch.
19.52 LJ2 lands with a headless fish.
19.53 Dilys holds the fish.
19.53 She starts eating.
20.18 Around half an hour later, Dilys takes her last bite then moves away from the fish.
20.18 She flies to the tall tree beyond the nest. The fish is circled.
20.43 The rain is on but look at that colour of sky tonight. Deep custard yellow!
20.42 Around the same time, LM6 and Mari are on the preening perch. A much more subtle shade of yellow this side.
21.25 They both leave but LM6 returns. This seems to be her favoured roosting spot.
22.19 Empty nest apart from the piece of fish left by Dilys.
Monday 14 August
Good morning from Brenig. 05.59 One of the juveniles landed on the nest.
The other waved from the perch! 06.00
07.20 Dilys was on the nest, Mari on the tall tree. LM6 flew past with a fish, Mari followed her to the nest.
07.21 LM6 landed and Dilys was in position to collect the fish.07.21 Mari landed. Dilys already had the fish.Mari watched her sister eating before leaving at 07.40
07.45 Dilys ate for a few more minutes then she flew off with the fish. 07.45
Next it was Mari’s turn to be fed.
09.00 Mari could be heard calling and flew in with LM6 who was carrying a headless fish.
Mari quickly took the fish.
09.01
09.05 Mari tightened her grip on the fish
and flew off with it.
After dropping off the fish, LM6 looked like she was drying her wings on the preening perch.
09.23
10.06 She stayed there until 12.00 and had a good preen.
12.00
Dilys made a few visits to the nest.
09.56
13.0313.19
14.34 LJ2 flew onto the nest. Dilys immediately followed, sounding hungry!She called and called and LJ2 soon flew off.