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.
22.16 372 left the nest
and flew to the tower perch.
She turned around so she’d be facing the nest.
I guess she’ll be roosting here tonight again.
©️NWWT. WW, BOP
19 July
Good morning. Well I guessed wrong last night - 372 returned to the nest later for two and a half hours.
23.38
02.13 and then she left.
04.48 Her first visit to the nest in the morning.
06.19 Bethan 8B9, started fish calling and 372 joined in.
06.20 LJ2 brought in a fish he’d started on.
372 took it
snd started feeding Bethan
06.23
06.35 When Bethan was finished, Emrys 8B8, got his turn.
06.50 and it looks like he’s had enough and the feed is finished.
06.52 372 picked up some tiny scraps, cleaned her beak then flew to the nearby tree.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
07.17 372 arrives with a large awkward stick
07.18 LJ2 arrives
Family portrait
That stick is troublesome, 372 trying to get past it.
07.50 Emrys found the leftover fish and picked it up.
372 goes around the stick again, it brushes her back.
She lifts her wings and the stick is knocked off the nest.
07.52 Emrys 8B8 left the fish and Bethan 8B9 tried to eat it but it got left again.
08.16 A short while later LJ2 came to collect the fish. It looks like Emrys 8B8 is sitting on it.
When Emrys shuffled and moved over a bit
08.17 LJ2 moved in and pulled the fish up.
Then he was off for a feed.