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 22
Good morning.The rain continued until after 02.00 then thankfully started to dry up.
05.01 372 doing some preening.
05.06 LJ2’s first delivery of the day, a strong stick for nest reinforcements.
05.49 #1 and 372 shifting small twigs together.
05.53 372 feeds #1 the piece of left over fish from last night.
05.56 LJ2 arrives with a small live fish.
05.58 372 continues feeding #1 from last night’s fish
05.59 then decides to take the fresh fish.
06.03 she feeds #1 until it turns away
06.04 372 changes position so she can feed #2
06.05 the chicks are managing larger pieces now
06.06 372 leaves for a comfort break.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
06.07 372 returns from her quick break
06.09 LJ2 takes the fish away
06.11 372 and the chicks huddle in as best as they can.
06.23 a bit of shut eye
06.58 372 takes a break
06.59 LJ2 arrives with the fish making a couple of contact chips on landing
07.00 He starts eating the fish, the chicks show interest and he feeds a piece to one of them.
07.02 372 then returns and moves round to the side of the nest to take the fish.
7.03 Now I don’t know who is getting fed but hoping it’s #2.
07.06
07.19 372 takes the tail and walks further round the nest.
The chicks both look satisfied, lying down. 372 offers one more piece
07.22 then finishes the fish herself.
08.02 A lot of fresh nesting being brought in from 372
08.06
08.10 A lot of preening taking place this morning as well.
08.53 #1 joins mum preening. Look how small the egg now appears next to #1!
09.39 more nesting
09.40 some rearranging
10.02 another couple of blocks
more preening with intermittent calling for fish.
11.25 372 looked to the skies, did she see LJ2?
Yes, she started fish calling and dancing about the nest in preparation for LJ2’s arrival.
Within 2 seconds, 372 had her beak on the live fish he’d caught.
11.26 372 takes the fish to the chicks
#2 is ready first to be fed
11.27 #1 (to the back) joins the feed
11.29
11.33 #2 walks away from the feed
11.41 a few minutes later, #1 leaves the feed.
11.44 #2 has come back over to feed.
11.49
11.51 #2 leaves again, 372 carries on eating.
11.58 Down goes the tail.
13.40 LJ2 brought another small whole fish.
13.45 It was enough to feed the 2 chicks and 372.
#1 got the best of the feed, #2 did get some but had issues with a branchy stick which got caught around the chick’s neck.
13.51 #2 in the background is being held back by the branch.
14.00 #2 managed to turn and come for a feed.
14.06 #2 was getting held back trying to move forward.
14.38 the chick (right) has managed to escape the branch although the nest is crowded with tricky nesting materials.
15.06 A larger whole fish is delivered by LJ2.
15.08 #1 is first over again for a feed. I don’t know where it’s putting it as it looks fit to burst!
15.12 #2 lies down while #1 eats.
15.14 #2 joins the feed.
15.16 #1 turns away as #2 is getting fed
15.20
15.22
15.23 #2 turns away and 372 has some fish to herself.
15.52 LJ2 takes the fish for his share.
16.29 he returns with the fish but there are no takers
16.33 LJ2 starts eating the fish.
16.36 the chicks go over towards LJ2 and he starts a feed.
16.45 It looks like the chick closest to LJ2 has been getting the feed.
16.54 372 decides to take over
16.59
17.19 The fish is finished.
20.30 LJ2 has caught supper. Looks like a wee perch.
20.31 372 has taken the fish
She begins the feed.
20.32 Both chicks get a share, #1’s share is always bigger. 20.34
20.45
20.48 Last few pieces to #1
20.49 372 gets the tail.
21.51 372 looked settled for the night.
When LJ2 arrived with a second supper! Another live perch.
21.53 A hidden feed. The chicks can be heard asking for it!
21.55 the feed is currently ongoing.
The feed finished at 22.11 with 372 swallowing the tail fin.
22.15 LJ2 arrived on the nest and looked for the fish.
22.17 No fish, so he picked up a stick and dropped it on the chicks!
372 tried to stop him and grabbed the stick to place elsewhere
LJ2 took hold of the stick as well and it fell on the chicks’ backs again.
22.17 They both held the stick together again and it was clumsily (372 stood on one of the chicks) dropped to the front of the chicks.
372 jumps back as she trods on a chick, she got a fright
22.19 372 gingerly made her way back down to brooding the chicks.
LJ2 looked for the fish again, just in case he’d missed it! He’s only had 2 feeds today from the 6 fish he’s brought in.
No supper for him, he flew off.
22.59 372 has just shut her eyes. It sounds windy and like the rain is starting.