For this year’s opener, I’m starting with AG’s recent comments (end of August 2023-February 2024) which give an insight to what’s been going on at Llyn Brenig.
12/02/2024
“There are some posts on the Brenig Osprey Project Facebook page with camera trap images and videos of voles, foxes and a family of otters. There is also an appeal for additional viewing equipment. The osprey watchpoint has a new verandah which will be a better base for scopes.There is a volunteer recruitment event at Llyn Brenig on 25 February if anyone in the region wants to join the merry band.All details at www.facebook.com/brenigospreyproject”
01/03/2024
“Just a little more info on preparations at Llyn Brenig. The nest is on a pole in the water just into the reservoir from a peninsula, which was tree covered, As explained in the conservation plan plan prepared by Tim Mackrill, the trees have been felled over the last 2 years (they were mature and ready for use as timber). The brash from the felling has been gathered up and used to create a barrier across the peninsula in line with the hide which is there. Some tree stumps were left near the nest last year after the first stage of felling were used by the ospreys as perches for eating, and are still there. Last year the hide could not be used in moderate or high winds due to the risk of trees falling on it; that is no longer a concern. If you scroll up to Glider's post on 31 August above you can see the trees which have now been felled, and the hide in the middle of the line of trees.
Both cameras are still streaming - there is snow on the hills around the reservoir this morning.”
Background to the nest:-
Again, many thanks to AG who wrote this preface to the Llyn Brenig thread for us below. (I’ve just edited extra information)
Llyn Brenig is a reservoir on the border between Denbighshire and County Conwy in North Wales. It is managed by Welsh Water; the osprey project is a partnership between them and North Wales Wildlife Trust.
One pair of ospreys (Blue HR7 (M) 2014 Lake Menteith, Scotland and Blue 24 (F) 2010 nr Rutland) raised a single chick here each year from 2018-2020, Z9 (F) Luned, KA5 (M) Roli and KC5 (F) respectively. Sadly, KC5 died after fledging, colliding with a wind turbine.
Neither of this breeding pair returned in 2021, when the nest was taken over by 2 Scottish birds, LJ2 (male) and LM6 (female), both 2018 chicks. The nest was vandalised the night after LM6 had laid her first egg; while the two could not continue to breed they did stay close to the site until normal migration time.
A new nest was erected in 2022 with additional security and a streaming camera in place. A new hide was also built.
LJ2 and LM6 returned in 2022 and successfully fledged 2 chicks, X6 Olwen (F) and KA9 Gelert (M)
LM6 lost her blue darvic ring on the nest. It was later recovered by Welsh Water and kept for display.2023 saw LJ2 and LM6 return to breed and successfully raise 2 female chicks 7B5 (Dilys) and 7B6 (Mari)
RETURN DATES
2022 - LJ2 April 6th - LM6 April 10th
2023 - LJ2 March 31st - LM6 April 4th
2024 - LJ2 March 31st (07.02hrs) LM6 sadly hasn’t yet returned. Blue 372 (translocation Poole Harbour 2021) visited April 1st then stayed April 6th
Eggs laid
#1 23/04/24 17.40 #2 26/04/24 19.28
Links to
August 2023 to February 2024
North Wales Wildlife Trust Page https://www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk/days-out/ospreys-llyn-brenig
Welsh Water Page https://llynbrenig.com/llyn-brenig-osprey/
Osprey Project Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/brenigospreyproject
Friends of Llyn Brenig Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/FriendsofLlynBrenigBlue24
Llyn Brenig YouTube Channel for Live Stream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOGHtmoEY7w
Llyn Brenig PTZ camera for off nest live stream PTZ live stream
All captures and videos ©️ NWWT, Welsh Water, Brenig Osprey Project
LM6 (left) and LJ2 April 2023
16.35 LJ2 delivered a very large fish to 372. He'll be hoping for left overs.
Lots of soft furnishings have been brought into the nest today.
13.23 372 sorting a clump of moss that had fallen into the nest cup.
13.48 LJ2 putting more into place
14.32
LJ2 flies off after mating
16.00 372 trying the new furnishings out, she looks quite comfortable.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
AG said:16.35 LJ2 delivered a very large fish to 372. He'll be hoping for left overs.
16.04 LJ2 was on the nest with 372. She was asking for fish.
LJ2 left at 16.05 and returned at 16.25 with a very fresh fish.
372 was straight over to take it
She flew off with the fish and landed on the marked post to eat.
LJ2 busied himself on the nest whilst 372 ate her fish.
16.43 shifting this large clump from one side of the nest to another.
Rearranging sticks and bark.
17.13 372 returns …….. with no leftovers for LJ2!
LJ2 follows her onto the nest and leaves again shortly after.
After 372 came back to the nest and LJ2 made a swift visit, it looked to me like he went to the same post you circled Glider and started eating the fish which she had I think left there. That's not behaviour I've seen before.
Thanks AG, I actually watched that too and saw him land there. I wondered if he was looking for fish leftovers as it wasn’t a long time for 372 to have eaten the whole fish. I didn’t realise he had found the fish and ate it. That’s amazing!
I did watch him once drop a fish in that same area beyond the nest and later on go back, spot his dropped fish and fly to the ground and collect it. He’s some bird!
17.13 LJ2 flying over to where 372 had been eating and left her fish.
He landed on this post first. He is top left within the circle.
He then flew over to the post 372 had used and found the remains of the fish which she’d left there. 372 watched his every move.
17.56 Later, 372 was on the tower perch having a wee preen.
18.07 LJ2 flew up off the post after finishing the fish, thanks AG.
He went straight to the tower perch to mate with 372 (successful)
18.09 LJ2 then returned to the nest to do some adjustments.
18.58 They’re really getting the hang of this mating business now!
And again at 20.00
20.53 As darkness fell, 372 left the nest to fly to this branch
20.57 She then flew to the nest perch. Perhaps that’s where she’ll spend the night.
I’ve outlined some of her wing to the left as she landed below the nest on the perch.
22.12 LJ2 was on the tower perch.
He left at 22.13 in the direction of the nest. Just after there was wing flapping on the nest perch.Yes that smudge I’ve arrowed, is a wing!
So has LJ2 joined 372 on the nest perch or is she just stretching her wings? I think it’s LJ2.
17 April
05.12 Good morning. LJ2 was first to appear on the nest this morning. He flew up from the nest perch.
372 joined him. She flew in from the left.
05.13 LJ2 mantled at the side of the nest on top of a piece of moss. It was attached to his talons when he flew up
he dropped it before landing on 372’s back to mate. They tried but couldn’t hold their positioning so were unsuccessful.
Admiring the view! There was some other bird noise in the background.
05.19 LJ2 returned and tried again - unsuccessful
and again at 05.32 - unsuccessful
05.37 he returned and stood on the nest beside 372 for just over 10 minutes.
05.49 Success at last!