CONTINUED FROM MAY 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
Hatched
June 2 - 00.52, June 4 - 09.48? I believe these are eggs 2 and 3.
All captures and videos ©️NWWT, Welsh Water, Brenig Osprey Project
RESUMÉ FOR MAY 2024
The new couple’s relationship has continued to grow. They have worked hard together to maintain and strengthen their nest, bringing in new materials daily. Both birds have been catching fish and sharing these with each other. They have also shared incubation and developed strategies to get each other off the eggs when needed! They have also defended their nest from intruders, the most traumatic being when Blue 432, Eshells, a 3 year old returner from Kielder visited on the 9th of May.. Blue 372 fought hard to keep her place on the nest as she was continually chased and dive bombed in Blue 432’s bid to oust her. The eggs were left unattended for around 3 1/2 hours. Luckily it was a warm evening so hopefully no damage done. The most exciting visit came from dear KA9 (22), Gelert, son of LJ2 and LM6 when he arrived on the morning of the 25th of May. It was a short visit as he was soon ushered away by LJ2.
June 1
Good morning. We are still on egg watch for our first hatching. It was a peaceful night for 372. She had many positional changes, rolling the eggs but I don’t see any signs yet of pipping.
00.20 A few of the egg rollings.
00.33
02.37
03.42
I didn’t see her take a comfort break during the dark hours.
04.56 372 started calling
then got up and left the nest for her comfort break.
Cropped eggs
04.57 She returned a minute later, rolled the eggs04.58 then settled down.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
05.16 372 rolled the eggs again
05.17
05.31 LJ2 arrived, he made a couple of contact chips.
05.32 372 got up and left the nest.
LJ2 made his way to the eggsCropped eggs
Thank you Glider , enjoyed the synopsis too.
Many thanks for the super new thread, Glider!
372 was off the nest for over an hour. She was at the tower perch for half an hour preening.
06.34 just landed
Straight down to business!
07.03 she started vocalising to LJ2
07.05 before going to the nest. She was making gentle contact chips on arrival.
LJ2 made way
372 moved a small piece of bark away from the eggs.
07.06 Then settled down.
07.35 372 got up for a wing flap
then back to the eggs for a roll
07.36 and shuffle around.
07.51 LJ2 returned
and the swapped over.
08.12 372 returned to the tower perch for a preen.
08.15
08.35 She yawned, looked around then left
collecting a hooked stick on her way to the nest.
08.39 LJ2 saw 372 arriving, he got up
and flew off
372 landed with her stick.
08.40 She picked it up in her beak
land carried it to the other side to place on the perimeter.
She was in the mood for a bit of tidying.
08.41
A roll of the eggs before sitting down.
08.42 Nope, more tidying to do!
372 sits over the eggs.
08.43 She adjusts again. I think she’s settled now!©️NWWT, WW, BOP
09.28 LJ2 flies in with crisps cross sticks.
They vocalise to each other.
372 leaves
09.29 LJ2 moves quickly onto the eggs and chews at some fine sticks in front of him.
09.37 372 arrives with the first fresh greenery I’ve seen, leaves in amongst some sticks.
As LJ2 gets up to leave, he collides with 372
and falls to the front
he quickly regroups and flies off
372 is left rocking on her sticks.
09.38 She starts to place things.
09.40
09.41 settled down
10.48 Egg rolling
11.05 Egg rolling
11.14 372 is not long settled back down when LJ2 arrives. Something has caught his eye.
11.15
He is soon mantling and chipping.
I’ll have to leave it there as am out for the day now. BBL
Bit of a reaction from 372 as she settled on the eggs, heard or felt something perhaps...