Continued from June 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? It is not known for certain which eggs these are. My thoughts are these are eggs 2 and 3 and egg number 1 did not hatch. (Left unattended on a frosty night)
However, the consensus among the volunteers is that it is eggs 1 & 2 which have hatched. Llyn Benig is around 1000 feet above sea level so the ambient temperature is around 2 degrees Celsius lower than at sea level which might account for longer hatching times. It has certainly been a cold hatching period. (AG)
Chicks ringed 08/07/24 - 8B8 (M) 1500g 265mm - 8B9 (F) 1620g 291mm
All captures and videos ©️NWWT, Welsh Water, Brenig Osprey Project
RESUMÉ for JUNE 2024
This has been a month of fast change. Two chicks were born at the beginning of the month. On chick 1’s day of hatching, someone was flying a drone in the area and it spooked 372. She alarm called and quickly left the nest with the little chick being thrown to the nest edge as she left. Somehow that wee one had the instinct and strength to move back to the nest cup and safety again. 372 has proven to be a great first time mother. She has gently fed the chicks, given them warmth and shelter and LJ2 has provided well with a variety of daily fish. There have been the usual intruders which has distracted LJ2 at times from bringing in fish but he would always bring some later on. The chicks are now 4 weeks old and developing very well. There is a hierarchy between the chicks with #1 being dominant over #2, mostly at feeding times. #2 knows to allow #1 to feed first then it’ll get its turn. Gelert KA9(22) son of LJ2 and LM6, was photographed at Dyfi 3 weeks after his visit here on 25 May.
21.43 LJ2 manages another catch before dark. Again small though.
As 372 collects the fish, both chicks get up and #2 at the back looks at #1 to see what it’s going to do.
21.44 #1 has a stretch then decides to go for a feed so #2 holds back again.
21.56 Once #1 turns away, #2 comes forward but there’s not much fish left.
#2 gets a 3 minute feed.
22.00 372 gets the tail fin again, she’s not had much today either.
372 checks her talons for any leftovers then starts calling for fish again.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
Too late now for more fish. 372 has just tucked her head in to go to sleep.
6 July
Good morning, another wet one. 06.17 First fish of the day, another very small catch. Again, only #1 was fed with 372 getting a couple of morsels.
372 offers #1 with #2 sitting quietly behind #1
06.22
All gone.
06.30 Good for LJ2, he brought another fish in, small but much larger than the first, 7 minutes after the first one was eaten.
#2 got fed this time.
06.31 Again, images are very poor because of the weather.
06.32 #1 being fed
06.41 #1 turned away, now #2’s chance
06.45
06.50
06.51 Looks like it’s finished. #2 shouts for more.
07.00 A third little fish arrives 9 minutes later.
That looks like all the fish so far this morning. I’m out all day now.
09.03 Current nest scene in the rain. 372 doing a grand job sheltering the chicks.
A quick catch-up on the rest of the day after 11am onwards.
14.58 A large fish from 372.
18.28 LJ2’s discovered where all the big fish are!
18.30
20.01 Some chipping on the nest but I saw nothing else.
20.10 The chicks look so cosy and comfortable lying there.
21.00 A wee treat before bedtime. This is fish #6 that I’ve seen today.
23.54 Night night 372 and little ones. It’s been a good day for the family with everyone being well fed.
7 July
Good morning. Today #1 chick is 5 weeks old. I guess the chicks be getting ringed this week.
04.26 An early morning preen for all.
04.45 LJ2 drops by to say hello.
06.17 Soaking wet
372 finds a leftover fish on the nest.
06.38 Only one chick feeds. Seeing the chick standing next to mum, it’s like a mini me with dark necklace.
06.4006.42
06.44 372 calls for more fish.
08.19 She finds another on the nest.
08.20 Both chicks get fed. A yawn from the chick.
09.15 As the weather dries out, all have a preen,
09.34 372 currently covering the chicks.
Will be good to see some clear & up close ringing pics!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Any good pics would be welcome Wendy! It does seem to rain a lot here!
There was a small fish delivery at 09.52.
#1 was outstretching it’s wing at the same time as 372 was standing up.
They got a big caught together as 372 tried to take the fish.
#1 managed to pull its wing back.
The chicks presented themselves
09.53 #1 got the biggest part of the feed.
10.02 #2 started to get a share of the fish as well.
10.10 372 swallowing the tail fin.