Continued from March/April 2024
LINK to Opening Page with background and history of this nest and relevant links
This season so far
31 March Blue LJ2 returns
1 April Blue 372 briefly visits, 6 April Blue 372 returns and stays
Sadly, Blue LM6 has not returned
Eggs laid
#1 April 23 - 17.40, #2 April 26 - 19.28, #3 April 29 - 15.46
All captures and videos ©️NWWT, Welsh Water, Brenig Osprey Project
April saw Blue LJ2 (18) pair with a new female, Blue 372 (21), with his first mate, Blue LM6 (18) sadly not returning this year. They raised 2 chicks in 2022 and 2023 and had formed a good partnership.
As a 3 year old, this is Blue 372’s first year of breeding. She was translocated to Poole Harbour in 2021 from a Scottish nest. She returned in 2023 and teamed up with Blue 416. They actually intruded at Llyn Brenig then and found themselves a nest elsewhere on private land in Wales. However, this year, Blue 372 chose the Llyn Brenig nest and LJ2 as her mate. Blue 416 did intrude here and try to take Blue 372 back. She stuck to her choice though and Blue LJ2 courted her and they became a couple. A lot of new experiences for Blue 372 this year but she is handling everything well and still doing her own thing ie catching fish if need be!
LM6 may not have returned but her wonderful son has. I remember, he was the first to leave on migration in 2022.
On checking records, he left the nest for the last time (aged 85 days) on 27/08/22, 3 days before his mum and sister, (Olwen X6) left. Now he’s back as a nearly 2 year old, 637 days later/20 months and 28 days!
Last image of Gelert in August 2022 before he left for migration
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
How different the nest setting was then. Notice the nest perch was still visible. LM6 used it a lot to preen or watch over things.
Ths was how Gelert, KA9’s visit unfolded.
08.32 An Osprey flies under the tower perch carrying a fish (later to be known as LJ2)
08.35 LJ2 is heard chipping in the background. 372 joins in from the nest.
Gelert lands on the tower perch.
He is very pale chested just like his dad.
08.36
Gelert leaves
372 chipping
Gelert flies downwards watched by 372
LJ2 is in hot pursuit
LJ2 with his fish flying past the nest.
08.37 The 2 birds are seen in the sky flying across the lake.
Gelert is last seen flying in this direction, ushered by LJ2.
All quiet again.
09.00 LJ2 arrives with his fish, a headless brown trout.
09.01
09.02 372 is off with the fish.
09.37 LJ2 doesn’t have too long to settle as 372 returns with the fish around half an hour later.
09.38 She takes it to the other side of the nest and releases it. LJ2 readjusted and settled back onto the eggs.
09.39 LJ2 wasn’t in a hurry to get off the eggs.
but 372 insisted.
09.40 He collected the fish.
09.41 and left whilst 372 made herself comfortable on the nest.
10.18 372 has remained on the nest. She’s had a few position changes
10.19
10.54
10.56
12.50 LJ2 arrived on the tower perch with his fish.
Lovely close ups
11.52 He started eating again
12.24 372 had started gently calling to LJ2
12.25
12.26 Her calls got louder as she stood up
and told him she was leaving
12.26 LJ2 listening to 372
He flew down to the nest.
(the PTZ cam is 5 seconds faster than the nest cam)
12.27 He started eating the fish again on the nest edge.
12.29
12.31 He ate for another couple of minutes then walked to the nest cup with the fish still in his right talons.
He released the fish, which was more or less just tail now.12.32 Then resumed incubation of the eggs.
12.57 LJ2 currently on the nest.
Brenig’s happy FB post earlier about Gelert’s return this morning.
Link to video clip
Great news, thanks for posting Glider, can't get to it via your link with FB telling me 'too many redirects' ... that's a new one!! ... will go direct!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Brilliant news re KA9 (Gelert). Thank goodness we have webcams to see any visitors, especially those returning to their natal nest! Thanks AG and Glider!
Yes, great news indeed Wendy and Sandra. Sorry about the link Wendy!
I agree about the webcams Sandra, we’re so lucky. Also, Gelert/KA9 didn’t even land on the nest so thank goodness for the extra tower cam.
From scroll back, the nest looked pretty quiet for the rest of the day.
LJ2 was on the tower perch a few times preening.
14.05
16.28 the light was superb with the sun out, giving nice clear photos.
17.19
There were the usual changes between 372 and LJ2 to incubate. However, later when 372 was on the eggs, LJ2 flew on mantling and chipping.
18.50
They both looked skyward
18.52 I didn’t see anything
18.53 things quietened down
18.54 LJ2 left the nest
21.37 LJ2 flew onto the tower perch with a small late night fish which he’d started already.
He started eating it again.
21.45 Then brought it to the nest for 372.
372 flew off with it.
Hmme, 372 has made light work of the fish or dropped it!
21.55 she returned to the nest 9 minutes after leaving.
She evicted LJ2 from the eggs
21.57 And got comfortable for the night.
21.56 LJ2 made a quick visit to the tower perch.
22.11
He left a minute later.