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 - (Second hatched) 8B8 (M) 1500g 265mm - (First hatched) 8B9 (F) 1620g 291mm
Chicks named 18/07/24 8B8 EMRYS - 8B9 BETHAN
Chicks fledged 28/07/24 (54 days old) - 27/07/24 (55days old)
MIGRATIONS
8B8 Emrys - 03/09/24 (92days old) / 372 03/09/24 (3years old)
8B9 Bethan 06/09/24 (96 days old) / LJ2 last seen on the evening of 06/09/24 so probably left 07/09/24 (6 years old)
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.
Let's have a biggie whilst it's not raining ...
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
The family had to wait a few hours on their next feed.
10.55 Two soggy chicks.
11.32 As the morning dries out, lots of preening is going on.
14.37 Practising wing flapping
16.55 372 shifting the bedding, it ends up on her chick’s head!
17.49 Patiently waiting on LJ2 bringing their dinner.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
WendyBartter said:Let's have a biggie whilst it's not raining ...
17.53 Here you go Wendy, LJ2 arrives with a good sized fish.
17.54 The fish got loose but 372 regained control.
18.01 both chicks and 372 got a good feed.
18.11 The chick to the right, #2 I suspect, moved round to the right of 372 to get fed.
18.12 It worked and it was able to join the feed.
18.16 More wing flapping practice.
18.56 some for 372 now
19.08 All finished over an hour later.
20.04 LJ2 arrived with soft nesting.
20.21 He pottered around the nest, left and returned a few minutes later.
Someone wasn’t looking for the family portrait!
21.20 Mum and the chicks.
22.25 Current scene as darkness falls.
Streaming down at Llyn Brenig. Ringing planned for this morning.
AG said:Streaming down at Llyn Brenig. Ringing planned for this morning.
Cam down just after 06:00
IMAGICAT
Live stream back up.
Many thanks, AG!
.
08 July
As GLIDER appears to be taking the day off (how dare she? but I do hope she's OK )...
The newly-ringed chicks haven't posed to show off their rings yet. When 372 returned to the nest she was most wary and suspicious, but LJ2 has settled everyone down with 2 nice fish: