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
16.09 LM6 and the 2 juveniles flew onto the nest as LJ2 brought in a live perch.
16.10 He landed with it but took off again before anyone took the fish.
16.23 LJ2 left the nest for 13 minutes, then returned with the fish which he had now started eating.
16.24 The fish was taken away and returned again16.25 the juveniles were calling for the fish but didn’t approach to take it from LJ2
16.29 LJ2 started eating the fish on the nest
16.31 Mari found a scrap that had been dropped
16.32 LJ2 held onto the fish
16.33 Mari called for the fish again
16.34 Dilys flew down to the perch
16.37 LJ2 continued eating as Mari called
16.57 by the time Mari finally approached to take the fish, only the tail end was left.
16.57 she grabbed his foot as she tried to take it.
As Mari tried to transfer her talon onto the fish, she caught LJ2’s talons
They were still entangled
Mari finally breaking free and clasping the fish
16.58 Mari flies off with her tiny snack. A lot of effort for so little.
LJ2 brought in another, larger fish at 19.02
19.05 Dilys took this one
19.47 She ate on the nest
20.27
20.41, she finally shook off the fish and walked away.
Mari was calling from the nest perch as LJ2 arrived and took the remainder of the fish away.
21.10 LM6 flew onto the nest
21.11 She stayed for a minute then looked down to the perch and left. She may have flown down to join Mari who was calling.
21.22 LJ2 arrived with the fish end.
21.23 He left the nest after about a minute and flew to the preening perch to eat the rest of the fish.
Sunday 20 August
Good morning Today Mari is 83 days and Dilys 85 days old.
They were both around the nest early this morning and it was Dilys who claimed the first fish, delivered by LM6 at 07.10.
LM6 left soon after delivery
07.11 Dilys started eating straight away
07.15
07.15 Mari left07.19
07.21 Mari returned
07.24
Dilys ate a little while longer then left the nest with her fish at 07.49.
07.49 Mari decided to stay on the nest calling for fish.
08.12 She settled down
08.14
08.15 Mari quickly got up as she saw LJ2 incoming with a fish for her
She took it cleanly first go
mantling with her fish
08.16 Fish secured in her talons, Mari left the nest.
08.17 LJ2 did a bit of stick tidying
08.18 LM6 joined him. She tidied up scraps of fish.
08.19 Looking out together.
How much longer will we see them like this? The days are ticking by.
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
WendyBartter said:Maybe they are in no hurry to leave this harmonious nest and plenty of fish from devoted parents!
Haha, you could be right there Wendy!! These juveniles have been so lucky with the care and attention they’ve received.
The nest had been pretty quiet after Dilys and Mari left with their fish. LM6 was on for periods and also the crows.
08.56
10.16
11.06
12.2314.26
14.40 LM6 chased the crow away.
14.40 One of the juveniles joined her on the nest.
16.00 Later both juveniles came to the nest as LM6 was seen with a fish. She landed on the nest with it.
16.01 Dilys took the fish. LM6 feaking her beak.
16.02
16.05
16.11 Dilys stopped eating and both juvies were looking up. Chipping could be heard in the distance.
Both juvies started flapping and calling
16.12 An Osprey flew by and landed on the tall tree.
16.13 The juvies pancaked. Dilys on top of her fish.
16.14 An Osprey flew from the right towards the water.
16.16 Dilys started eating her fish again.
16.32 Dilys then left the nest with her fish.
Mari left after a short while but soon returned to the nest.
16.58
16.59 She looked around for scraps
17.09 Mari then lay down for a bit.
18.26 it took about an hour and a half until a meal arrived for Mari. She got up calling as LJ2 was flying in over the water.
18.26 LJ2 came to the nest with a headless fish
Mari quickly took the fish
18.27 LJ2 left Mari with the fish in her grasp.
18.29 She took it elsewhere to eat.