LLYN BRENIG 2 July 2024 - FEBRUARY 2025

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.


  • 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 away


    18.11

    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.


    ©️NWWT, WW, BOP

  • 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 first

    20.24 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.


    ©️NWWT, WW, BOP

  • 16 July

    Good morning. Day cam comes on. It’s a very grey morning..

    04.43


    04.50 372 goes to the remains of yesterday’s fish. She has a small feed.


    04.52 Then leaves the nest.


    04.53 LJ2 arrives 


    picks up the fish

    and he leaves watched by the youngsters.


    04.54 372 returns


    04.57 they all hunker down


    06.19


    06.27 372 calls for fish.


    She leaves the nest.


    06.28 LJ2 comes in to land on the nearby tree.


    06.36 372 arrives with a twig.


    06.39 372 calls to LJ2 to go fishing.


    She then leaves and returns a minute later with another twig.

    06.40


    06.43 shouting over to LJ2 that they need a fish. 372 leaves again


    06.53 and returns with a clump of earth.

    06.57 still letting LJ2 know they’re hungry.


    Off she goes again.


    07.30 LJ2 leaves the tree


    and lands at the next one along.


    372 flew in from behind the tree in front of the nest, past LJ2, below the nest and up again.

    07.35 She was carrying a fish.


    07.35 And what a good size it is. 


    07.36 8B8 was the first to feed


    07.48 then 8B9


    08.04 more for 8B8


    08.05 and some for 372


    08.06 she then leaves.


    ©️NWWT, WW, BOP

  • 08.18 8B8 and 8B9 did some preening. LJ2 was still perched on the tree.


    08.54 LJ2 flew off

    08.57 372 returned 

    08.58 The upright piece of bark attracted her attention.


    She repositioned it then the wind flipped it. That’ll be that then!


    09.01 372 started eating the fish.


    8B9 went over for some.


    09.08 then 8B8


    09.22 a big stretch from 8B8 after he’s finished feeding.

    372 eats a little more. She flies to the tower perch at 09.29.


    ©️NWWT, WW, BOP

  • 09.41 372 returned to the nest. 8B9 was standing in front of her.


    372 moved forward. 8B9 didn’t take too kindly to that.

    She yelled and lunged at her mum.



    372 just quietly looked at 8B9


    09.42 8B9 started preening again.

    ©️NWWT, WW, BOP

  • 09.48 LJ2 returned with the tail end of the fish.


    09.49 A few seconds after, 372 started intruder chipping.

    09.54 LJ2 chipped as well as they watched.

    09.59 LJ2 took off with the fish


    372 then flew off too.


    10.34 LJ2 was first back on the nest, still holding the fish. Chipping could be heard from nearby.


    10.35 372 landed on the nest and started mantling and chipping


    10.38 It was now quiet and 372 flew off.


    10.46 LJ2 remained on the nest. He looked around then started eating the fish.


    10.48 372 returned, chipping and mantling. 

    I’m thinking the intruder must be a female because 372 is more bothered than LJ2


    11.15 372 was on and off the nest chipping, LJ2 stayed and ate the fish.

    11.17 Down goes the tail fin.


    ©️NWWT, WW, BOP

  • Things seemed to have quietened down now.

    372 has been on and off the nest.

    12.32 


    13.20 


    13.59


    14.38


    14.51


    15.32 


    15.35 8B8 and 8B9 started calling with 372 as LJ2 was seen arriving.


    He brought in a fresh brown trout.


    372 secured her grip


    ©️NWWT, WW, BOP

  • Both 8B8 and 8B9 were fed and got second helpings.

    15.38


    15.48


    16.03 


    16.15


    16.32 372 feaks her beak.


    17.45 372 is fish calling with her eyes closed!

    18.00 Still calling but with eyes open!

    19.04 372 has her head tucked in for a wee sleep.


    19.46 8B8 and 8B9 resting after preening.


    ©️NWWT, WW, BOP

  • 20.01 372 flew to the tower perch.


    20.03 LJ2 flew down from a nearby tree to the nest. He started chipping.


    20.06 He flew off 3 minutes later and landed on the tower perch beside 372.

    372 could be heard calling from the nest 


    20.20 She flew down to join 8B8 and 8B9


    21.26 Such a lovely end to the day comparing to the start.
    372 has her head tucked in sleeping.


    22.31 current scene on the nest.


    ©️NWWT, WW, BOP