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.
14.32 372 came to the nest and called as soon as she landed.
14.33
14.35 She was still calling then left.
14.41 She returned with a clump of earth.
14.44
16.18 It’s been quiet
17.48 Then it got very wet.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
17.56 Well done LJ2 in bringing in a large headless fish.
372 takes it
17.57 She starts feeding straight away18.11
18.23 8B8 and 9 both get fed
18.31 372 eats a little more
18.36 She does some tidying around the nest then lies with the 2 youngsters.
The birds pretty much stayed huddled here on the nest until 372 got up just under 2 hours later.
She beat her wings really fast a couple of times. You notice the strength of an adult as she held her position without taking off.
20.23 She also had a body shake in between then left the nest a bit drier.
8B8 and 8B9 both did what they had just seen mum do, a few wing flaps, a body shake, more wing flaps! 8B8 first20.24 8B9
20.25 And again
And again
They continued wingercising then mum came back.20.29
8B9 held her wings out for a few seconds, just feeling the wind blow through them.
20.32 372 then got back into mumbrella mode.
22.32 and they’re still like that now as the rain continues to pour.