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.
LJ2 brought in a tiny fish for supper.
20.45 All vision was blurred with the rainy lens.
20.46 372 has the fish in her beak
She begins a feed
20.47
20.48
372 is unable to grip the last piece in her talons to share with the bobs so ends up swallowing it.
20.49 She calls for more.
20.50 sheltering the bobs again.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
20.55 LJ2 duly obliged and brought in another fresh fish 6 minutes later. Small but bigger than the last one.
20.57 372 got up to collect it.
20.58
The bobs start getting fed.
20.59
21.00
21.03
21.04 372 has some more herself
21.05 then drops the fish and goes over to the bobs.21.06 She resumes brooding.
21.07 LJ2 flies onto the nest to eat the leftover fish.
21.10
21.21 He swallows the last piece
21.23 then leaves a couple of minutes later.
23.30 She’s sleeping
June 10
Good morning. The rain eventually stopped but 372 looked very wet in the morning when LJ2 came for a visit.
04.17. 372 asked for fish and LJ2 left a few minutes later.
06.28 372 left for a comfort break.
About half a minute later, LJ2 flew onto the nest.
06.29 372 returned with a slice of bark
She asked for fish straight away.
06.30 as LJ2 left, the little ones were asking for fish as well.
06.31
08.11 No deliveries yet, 372 is currently shouting for one.
9.44 a.m. LJ2 arrived with a headless fish - it is among the largest I have ever seen on a osprey nest.
I’ve just found that AG and am preparing to report it. Some size of girth. Do you think it’s a salmon?
No wonder breakfast took so long in coming, LJ2 caught himself a huge fish and had eaten a good portion before bringing it to the nest as AG’s photo above shows.
09.44 372 took the fish from LJ2
09.46 the feed was initially blocked by LJ2
09.48 372 and #1 bob ate well but not so much #2
09.53 You can see the size difference between #1 (right) and #2
09.55
09.59 372 still picking at the fish over the top of the chicks.
10.02
LJ2 came to collect the fish for another feed. This proved to be a bit tricky!
10.39 He gripped the fish with his talons but it slipped off on takeoff.10.40 He flew back down to try again.
This time he flew upwards with a piece of bark
He landed on the other side of the nest with the bark.
He tried a few times before managing to release the bark.
Then he stumbled onto 372’s tail
She then got up
10.41 readjusted and sat back down again
The wind was picking up, LJ2 gingerly walked around the nest edge.
He got blown by the wind, his feathers all over 372
LJ2 gripped the fish once more
10.42 He took off but was held back by a stick poking into the fish
10.42 so landed again
He readjusted
A mini lift off and back down
before the final successful takeoff.
What an effort!
11.40 LJ2 returned with the fish
11.42 the feed was initially blocked
11.43
until LJ2 left. This time #2 got a decent feed.
11.47
11.49
11.51
11.55
11.59 372 covers the chicks.