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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.