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.
18 July
Good morning. 372 spent her first night off the nest as the chicks were a bit restless and wriggly I suspect to sleep with!
00.13 372 decided to leave.00.14 a dark shape could just be made out arriving on the tower perch, which would be 372.
04.12 She was still there in the early morning light.
372 was there until 5am then left.
05.02 She picked up a wee chunk of bark and came to the nest.
05.33
372 stayed there until just before 6am.
06.01 8B9 then got some flying practice in. She managed a higher jump than yesterday which saw her land on 8B8’s tail.
He got up.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
06.15 372 arrived with a branch.
06.16 She’s getting those cot rails higher.
06.42 LJ2 brought in the first fish of the day.
372 collected it straight away.
06.43 The feed began with 8B9.
06.52 still feeding
06.55 8B9 leaves the feed
07.00 8B8 takes his time in going over to be fed.
07.08 8B9 shows an interest in the new cot rails as 8B8 feeds.
07.15 8B8 has had enough fish.
He now goes over to tackle the new branch.
He’s determined to move it.
07.16 372 getting a bit squeezed out.
07.19 LJ2 now arrived, it’s a very crowded nest!
372 flies off
07.20 LJ2 then flies off with the fish. 8B8 looking over the now unobstructed view!