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!
May 26
Good morning. After her night shift, 372 needed a break and called on LJ2.
04.31 She then got up and flew off.
A few seconds later, LJ2 flew in and took over incubation.
04.45 372 visited the tower perch to do some preening.
04.47
05.11 She then returned to the nest, collecting a clump of grassy earth en route.
05.12 With the birds’ movements on the nest, the long thin stick that LJ2 brought in yesterday, ended up balancing like a seesaw over the right edge.
After LJ2 left, 372 tried to address the stick
However, she quickly gave up for fear of trodding on her eggs.
She tried again once positioned over the eggs but it was too awkward to reach.
05.13 She gave up and got into a comfortable position, leaving the stick on a downward trajectory.
05.42 One of the noisy neighbours flew to the tower perch looking for leftover scraps.
372 was vigilant but didn’t seem too bothered.
07.27 She has been dozing on and off throughout the morning.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
I’ve been out all day so it’s just a very quick scroll back tonight. There was a late night headless fish delivery for 372.
21.05 LJ2 landed on the tower perch for a short spell before taking the fish to 372.
21.18 372 was calling loudly
21.19 372 takes the fish
LJ2 looks after the eggs.
May 27
Good morning. In the early hours, 372 gave a couple of soft contact calls then left the nest.
04.32
04.33 LJ2 responded and was soon sitting on the eggs.
04.33 372 briefly visited the tower perch then went elsewhere to preen.
She had a lengthy period off the nest but LJ2 was quite content sitting there.
06.21 372 returns.
06.22 She had to walk around LJ2 to encourage him to leave.
They swapped over again a couple of times.
07.17
09.24 372 resting on the nest
and LJ2 preening on the tower perch.
Latest post from Brenig FB. Countdown to egg hatching, Wednesday onwards.
A quick scroll back tonight again.
372 had been calling for fish for a while in the morning.
11.50
12.05 LJ2 arrived empty taloned.
13.28 372 put in her order again
14.08 No fish. LJ2 got an ear bashing!
16.08 Finally, a delivery but it’s from 372!
LJ2 picked it up in his beak then moved backwards to transfer the fish to his talons
however he couldn’t lay the fish down as it was over the eggs so just flew off holding it in his beak.
16.09 372 shifted a few pieces from the nest cup, rolled the eggs and began incubation.
18.18 After eating the fish, LJ2 flies in to take over incubation.
19.19 372 returns
20.27 372 illuminated in the late evening sun
21.51 It's very noisy as the sky is filled with cawing crows. All the black smudges are crows.
As they fly closer, LJ2 is revealed to be getting chased by them.
May 28
Goor morning.
05.28 LJ2 arrived with an early breakfast for 372.
It was just a wee tiddler
372 couldn’t get a secure grip with her talons.
So took it in her beak again
and left for a feed.
It didn’t take long to eat the wee fish and 372 was back at 05.57.
07.02 A change of position and roll of the eggs
07.33 and again
08.08 and again
08.09 She was vocalising as she moved the eggs
then LJ2 arrived with a second fish of the morning, much more substantial.
08.10 LJ2 took over incubation.
08.35 LJ2
08.59 After eating, 372 returned to the nest with the remaining part of the fish.
09.00 LJ2 didn’t move to leave so 372 started eating again.
09.01
09.09
09.10
She then looked upwards as the rain continued to fall
09.11 She decided it was time to get back onto the eggs, stopped eating and let go of the fish.
Nudging LJ2 to take over incubation.
09.12 settling down.
Things have been quiet since the morning fish deliveries.
It’s not a good day for taking nest photos with all the rain on the lens!10.23 372 sitting
12.56 372 returns from a break to take over from LJ2
13.33 still 372 I think!
The fish tail that 372 left this morning is still on the nest as far as I can make out.