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
All three eggs are rather pale with minimal markings?
Yes Sandra, they look totally white sometimes. #1 had a big dark red blob at one end, #2 had a smaller, lighter red blob at one end and a few spots. I’ve still to look at #3 properly. They’re definitely a lot less marked than other eggs I’ve seen.
Marvellous news
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Sandra said:All three eggs are rather pale with minimal markings?
I tried to get some different views of the eggs in here but they're mostly in the same positions:
I'm in a great muddle here because my friend has got a new phone and keeps phoning me asking tech questions about it and you know what me and smartphones are like !!! !!! !!!
IMAGICAT
15.45
A minute before 372 laid her 3rd egg. It was extremely difficult to see or hear anything. The noise of the weather on the microphone was so loud.
She did do her head movements that she’s done before, moving it from one direction to another in short, paused movements, checking the whole environment around her.
15.46 Seconds after laying, you can see 2 eggs behind her leg and one in front. They all look white here.
16.07 372 looking absolutely drookit, poor thing. ️
16.08 372 got up again to check her eggs, she was nearly upturned by the wind which caught her tail and thrust it and her body up.
She managed to save herself by putting down her wing.
16.48 LJ2’s first fish delivery of the day. He’s had the head.372 collected the fish from behind LJ2 so the view was obscured.
16.49 As LJ2 walked to the edge of the nest, the wind was catching him.
372 was getting buffeted as well
16.50 She dragged the fish to the nest edge.
16.50 As she pauses before flying off, LJ2 leaves first.
16.52 372 watched and waited. Thankfully LJ2 returned
and after he’d landed, 372 set off to eat her fish.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
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I've added a couple of egg close-ups to the video above - it will be a miracle if the poor things are not waterlogged :(((
Thanks for getting the video up so quickly Scylla. In spite of your friend’s new phone!!
I took a still of the end of your video and in my opinion, I’ve numbered the eggs as to which order they came in.
Many thanks, Glider and Scylla!
Ditto
17.42 372 ate well and returned to the nest with the small piece of fish left.
LJ2 got up from the eggs, lifted his wings and flew up backwards. You could see small raindrops fly off his wings as he became airborne.
372 watched him leave, probably expecting him to have taken the fish.
372 walked her fish over the nest and released it outside of the nest cup. It was just in front of her once she was settled on the eggs.
The weather is dry!! 18.53 LJ2 came looking for the fish.
He picked it up in his beak and flew off with it.
19.31 372 is calling for LJ2. He flies up from the nest perch to the left
He then comes in from the right to the nest. 372 gets up and takes a break
leaving LJ2 to look after the eggs.
She briefly returns at 19.46 for a couple of minutes, giving LJ2 an earful then leaves again.
The rain has started again.
20.09 372 comes back again and this time LJ2 leaves the nest and 372 starts her incubation for the evening.
20.10
21.08 Night cam comes on.