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
22.39 372 got up, gave her wings a few flaps then settled down again. ©️NWWT, WW, BOP
30 April
Good morning. 372 had a much more restful night than the night before. 01.04 She took a comfort break on the nest, stretched her wings, fluttered over from one side of the nest to the other and had a squirt which ended up on the nest.
She slept on and off the rest of the night with the odd wing stretch.04.57 LJ2 arrived to relieve 372.
05.15 372 returned but LJ2 sat tight
372 gently spoke to LJ2 as he sat then she left 4 minutes later.
05.35 372 flew up from the nest perch announcing her arrival.
She shifted some nesting materials around LJ2. He stood up but sat down again. 372 left after 4 minutes.
05.50 372 flew in with a long stick.
She left the stick overhanging the nest.She then sidled close to LJ2 and started at pulling the stick. She got the reaction she wanted.
A couple of body knocks and LJ2 got up.
05.51 When he left the nest, he took some soft materials with him which were caught in his talons.
LJ2 didn’t go far, he hovered/glided in the wind just beyond the nest.
He then returned to mate but 372 stayed upright and LJ2 more or less slid down her back and left.
05.52 372 finally got back to incubating her eggs.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
06.58 372 starts fish calling as she sees LJ2
He brings a headless fish to the nest.
372 collects
and off she goes with her breakfast. She flew towards the feeding posts and out of sight.
LJ2 moves a small piece of nesting that had shifted over an egg.
He’s settled down now whilst 372 eats.
Here’s an earlier photo of LJ2 on the tower perch doing some preening with the backdrop of the beautiful sun rise.
07.30 372 returned with the fish half an hour later.
After less than a minute, LJ2 flew off.
07.31 372 pecked at the fish
LJ2 returned and went to the eggs, 372 flew off with the fish.
07.52 372 returned with the ever shrinking fish.
07.54 372 releases the fish and goes to the nest cup
LJ2 walks backwards away from the eggs.
and collects the fish.
It’s now a tail end with handing skin.
07.55 372 moves the annoying curly piece of bark that keeps falling onto the eggs.
then rolls her eggs
07.56 before sitting on them.
LJ2 later came to the tower perch with what was left of the fish.
08.45
08.56 He left again 10 minutes later carrying the stringy piece of skin in his beak.
He flew to the nest
08.58 and continued eating there.
09.12 He starts to swallow the line of skinand the tail piece goes down too.
09.13 LJ2 then wipes his beak on the stick he is standing on.
The couple have been sharing nest duties.
10.25 372 was very sleepy here and tucked her head in.
10.25 LJ2 was preening on the tower perch
11.27 LJ2
12.02 372 asking LJ2 to go fishing. He chose egg sitting instead.
12.05 372 on the tower perch. She’s very interested with what’s below!12.28 Something caught LJ2’s eye whilst he was sitting on the eggs. He got up quickly to look.
It was 372 landing in the cam top.
12.29 She flew down, still asking for fish.
372 settled on the eggs but LJ2 was back in 15 minutes.
12.46 He hustled 372 off the eggs
372 flew off
13.54 Looks like 372 has gone and got herself another fish! (She caught one before on the day after she laid her first egg.)
372 did have a fish for breakfast but was asking again by lunchtime.
13.55
13.57 372 took off with it again.
Modern family as Brenig Osprey Project said before!
14.19 372 returned to the nest with her fish
14.20 LJ2 left the nest
372 walked with the fish towards the nest cup.
She released the fish
and walked into the nest cup.14.21 LJ2 flew in, targeting the leftover fish.
He collected it in his beak then flew off with it.
14.22 372 settled on her eggs.
15.10 LJ2 returned to the nest with what was left of the fish - skin and tail fin.
15.12 He continued to eat on the nest.
15.13 It was a struggle! 15.1415.16
15.20
15.25
15.25 and Gone!
I’ve lost count how many times he swallowed it only to get stuck with the tail fin, pull the skin out and start again!