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.
AG said:Yes I'm there, trying to hide behind my wife who is the lady in the pale blue jumper in the middle of the image. That shot was taken on the training day in March - which was VERY cold.
Yes I'm there, trying to hide behind my wife who is the lady in the pale blue jumper in the middle of the image. That shot was taken on the training day in March - which was VERY cold.
That’s lovely that you and your wife have the same interests and can volunteer together. Hats off to all of you. You seem to have forgotten your hat though!
06.43 372 started calling and got up and had a wing flap. LJ2 flew in.
372 told him that they needed more fish
06.44 372 then flew off for a comfort break, leaving daddy in charge.
06.48
06.50 LJ2 moved in for a closer look
06.51 372 returned soon after.
06.52 LJ2 watched as she settled in over the chicks and egg again and left shortly after.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
08.18 372 took another quick comfort break
Cropped pic of bobs
08.19 372 was back in under a minute.
I haven’t seen LJ2 since his baby sitting earlier so hopefully he’s fishing.
10.43 The nest just now. 372 has been preening. Sounds quite windy.
10.57 LJ2 arrived with a freshly caught fish.
10.58 372 ate some herself first.
11.00 then started feeding #2 bob
11.01
11.02 then she switched to #1 bob and seemed to give it the rest of the feed.
11.07
11.11 Once she’d walked away from the fish, she stopped at the still begging bobs
11.12 I couldn’t see what was going on but it looked like she fed some more to one or both of her chicks. 11.16 with the fish being so close to the nest cup, 372 found it tricky sitting down again but after a few adjustments, she managed.
11.22 LJ2 pulled the fish out from below 372. She must be a bit more comfy now!
LJ2 then took it off in his beak to eat.
12.08 LJ2 returned with the remainder of the fish.
I don’t know if 372 saw the fish but gave him an earful anyway!12.09 Did she see it this time?
372 got up to collect it.
12.12 #1 bob gets some
12.13
As 372 withdraws, #1 bob is attached to her beak and gets pulled up slightly. It causes it to tumble on its back
#1 quickly moves to correct itself.
No harm done!
Getting more food
12.15 It isn’t until after LJ2 has left and 372 moves closer to the cup that she is able to feed #2 bob.
12.16
12.17
It was quite a long feed.
12.21 #1 gets more again.
12.23 372 releases the fish and takes a quick comfort break.
12.24 She returns a minute later. Is that a new tail feather growing in?
12.25 Quickly covering the chicks and egg.
15 seconds later, LJ2 has arrived to collect the fish.
372 let out a wee call as she was unexpectedly disturbed and she stood up.
LJ2 flew off
12.26 And 372 settled down again.
As I suspected, LJ2 was on the tower perch watching intently to see when he could take the fish back!
Well, that has taken me ages to be able to write a post. When I clicked REPLY I kept getting my previous post to edit.
Anyway just a wee catch-up of the rest of the day’s events.
14 minutes after leaving with the fish end, LJ2 brought it back. 372 wasn’t too interested but LJ2 stayed and eventually 372 took the piece of fish. The bobs weren’t too interested either.
12.40
13.09 372 took the fish.
13.14 I think #1 bob may have had a couple of pieces.
13.15
13.16 372 left the tail and resumed brooding.
14.30 She left for a comfort break.
LJ2 flew onto the nest.
14.31 He collected the tail and started eating it.
14.33 372 returned and wanted the tail back. It looked like LJ2 tried to feed her a piece.
14.34 She wasn’t having it and insisted on taking it off him.
She offered a piece to one of the bobs.
14.34 And swallowed the fin herself.
14.35 372 was back on her chicks and egg. LJ2 left a minute later.
15.49 LJ2 visited the nest as the afternoon went on. He was particularly annoying to 372 on this instance.
He brought a stick in.
He dropped the stick across 372’s neck
He picked it up again to place elsewhere.
Pushing against 372 as he replaces the stick.
15.50 shifting a piece of bark.
Then moving another stick, brushing against 372’s head.
15.51 372 can relax again!
17.58 372 takes a comfort break
She’s just away for around half a minute.
18.22 A short while later, LJ2 arrived with a fish.
372 quickly took it.
18.24 feeding the bobs.
18.27
18.33 Both chicks got a feed, as well as 372 who ate more at the side of the nest.
18.35 She tidied up around the nest
before resuming brooding.
20,40 LJ 2 delivered a fish which he hid from view behind a raindrop on the screen!
Thanks AG, I had a terrible time trying to get a photo of it as like you said, it’s hidden behind a raindrop!
20.40 It looked very small
20.42 372 and both bobs got some each.
20.45 I think the fish was finished but couldn’t see properly. 372 took a quick comfort break
and returned just over half a minute later.
20.47 she was back on the chicks and egg.
21.16 LJ2 brought in another tiny offering
21.17
21.18 one bob may have got a piece or two and that was it.
21.18 372 finished the fish off
21.20 settled down.