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 2024
#1 23 April - 17.40, #2 26 April - 19.28, #3 29 April - 15.46
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
12.52 LJ2 flew onto the nest, straight into mantling. Was there an intruder around?12.53 372 flew on to join him.
It didn’t come to anything so they mated and LJ2 left.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
14.42 LJ2 brings in a very large piece of bark.
He lands a bit awkwardly with it but no harm seems done. 14.43 He’s all over the nest looking for the right place to leave it.
14.4414.47 Once satisfied, he did some nest cupping.
15.02 LJ2 flew onto the nest and stood wing flapping
then mantling, looking above chipping
unseen intruder, LJ2 left the nest after 3 minutes. 15.05
16.30 372 came to the nest later. She did some tidying and that large piece of bark that LJ2 had brought in became her main focus!16.31
16.38
16.39 LJ2 flew in to mate
16.56 372 stayed on the nest and eventually pushed the bark over the edge but landing on an outer layer of the nest.
17.08 As she waited on the nest, she began fish calling
She continued on and off, pacing around.
372 must’ve seen LJ2 arrive with a fish earlier. 17.47 It was now her turn for a feed as LJ2 approached with a chunky headless fish.
Again, 372 hit the side of the nest with the fish when leaving. She must practise her take-offs!
She landed on her favoured post.
Again, 372 returned to the nest later without the fish and LJ2 picked up where she left off on the post.
20.15 He hasn’t eaten it all though and brings the fish to the tower perch. The weather has deteriorated.
20.41 He then takes the half fish to the nest but 372 isn’t interested in it.
20.45 LJ2 moves with the fish to the tower perch again, 372 stays on the nest until 21.01
21.20 LJ2
21.37 Maybe he’s decided to roost there tonight.
23 April
Good morning. LJ2 spent the night on the tower perch with his fish remains.
05.17
After visiting the nest first, 372 then flew to the tower perch beside LJ2.
05.18
She stayed for a short while then left at 05.42 to return to the nest.
LJ2 decided it was time for breakfast.
06.05 He finished eating then returned to the nest to share the fish with 372.
However, she had a look and wasn’t interested. She then walked away to the front of the nest and left a couple of minutes later, leaving LJ2 and his fish behind.
06.07
LJ2 stayed for a further 2 minutes then departed to one of the feeding posts.06.08 372 landed on the tower perch
06.33 She did some preening and watching fish in the water below, doing the side to side head thing! She left at 06.41.
06.41 372 must’ve watched LJ2 arriving back to the nest with the fish.
and followed him on. Again, she didn’t take the fish.
LJ2 left at 06.43
and returned to the tower perch where he stood for about another 40 minutes.
LJ2 tried offering the fish again on the nest at 07.23 but 372 still didn’t show the slightest interest.
He took it back to the tower perch where 372 now was and started eating it himself.
He left just over 10 minutes later with the tail and returned empty taloned 5 minutes after that. At last, it was gone!09.16 372 has been on the perch a few times this morning.
She’s now having wee naps.
372 has laid her first egg. 5.40 p.m.
Aww, thanks AG, super news!
We’ve just had our first egg, just over an hour ago!