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.
Fingers crossed then Wendy!
18.47 A wing flap from 8B9
then 8B8
18.52 8B9 again
20.47 LJ2 arrives with a small fish
20.48 8B9 goes over first
20.49 8B8 waits patiently
20.53 then joins the feed.
20.59 and quickly it’s just the tail fin left which 372 eats.
©️NWWT,WW,BOP
21.11 Aw, one chick on each side of 372
21.35 372 resting her eyes
21.53 She’s now shouting over to LJ2 who is on the tower perch.
He’s been preening.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
22.50 Current scene. All sleeping.
13 July
Good morning. It’s nice and dry, the family partake in an early morning preening session.
05.15
07.19 Good to see the chicks standing more. They’re still a bit unsteady but getting stronger by the day.
08.01 Hello LJ2, that’s a nice brown trout you’ve brought for breakfast.
372 takes the fish.
08.02 Our view is blocked. 8B9 is being fed.
08.05 and here’s 8B8 nibbling underneath 372.
08.16 8B9’s been pulling at the fish in front of 372’s legs, you can just see her head.
08.17 8B9 has stood up to leave the feed . 8B8 is asking to be fed.
08.18
08.36 8B8 is now standing as 372 feeds him.
08.37 8B8 walks away from the feed.
372 continues eating, turning to see if anyone want any more.
It’s so calm here today not even a hint of wind.
A catch up from today.
10.33 Family preening session again.
11.39 A wobbly wing flap from 8B8
11.39 372 alarm called to the chicks to pancake and she flew off the nest.
11.40 LJ2 was on the tower perch.
The chicks stayed down for a wee while then moved about and settled down again.
11.54 372 joined LJ2 on the tower perch
12.28 LJ2 arrived at the nest and started mantling and chipping.
LJ2 quietened down and left the nest after a few minutes.
12.36 372 landed on the nest.
372 has spent much longer spells off the nest today. 14.32 She’s kept an eye on the chicks from the tower perch.
15.05 372 returns to the nest
17.06 A bit of housework
17.43 A tiny fish delivery from LJ2
18.07 followed by a much better sized one.
19.23 372 finishes off the fish. The chicks are satisfied.
19.58 372 back to the tower perch
20.37 She returns to the nest. Lovely colours in the sky tonight.
21.03 Cuddled in
22.29 Current scene.
NWWT, WW, BOP
14 July
Good morning. Although 372 starts the night laying with the chicks, she has recently spent more time standing as the chicks have grown bigger.
23.58
04.46 Looks like LJ2 has spent the night roosting on the nearby tree.
372 got a morning wake up call from one of the youngsters who needed a stretch!
05.29 After a few minutes of quiet calling from 372, LJ2 left the tree.
06.25 LJ2 drops by for a quick visit.
06.34 372 has been bringing in nesting materials.
She placed the clump of grassthen lifted a stick from below it to rest on top.
07.03 Preening time.
07.52 Beautiful clarity
07.52 372 then left the nest to go to the tower perch for a few minutes.07.56
07.58 and she’s off
08.58 It was an hour later that 372 returned to the nest.
09.01 8B9 ventures to the edge of the nest for a wee look.
10.51 372 replaces a clump of grass that was brought earlier.10.52
11.04 The youngsters taking it in turns for some wing flapping exercise. 8B8
8B9
372 giving the youngsters a lot more time alone on the nest. 11.36 She is watching from nearby on the tower perch.
11.55 after some standing, preening and wing flapping, the two osplets are now resting.
12.03 372 is still on the tower perch.
The youngsters are progressing so well, thanks for updates Glider ...
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr