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.
12.15 8B9 has been doing her flying practice. Little lifts
13.05 then her biggest to date (see Scylla’s video above)
she went out of view of the screen for a moment then back down again.
and landed on Emrys’ back.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
14.44 8B9 is very close to the nest edge. Both chicks preening.
14.50 LJ2 is incoming with a fish. Bethan asking for it.
372 took the fish
then Emrys took it off 372
14.51 then Bethan took it off Emrys.
14.52 Bethan ate most of the fish
15.01 then Emrys took the tail
15.03 and swallowed that.
15.39 LJ2 brought in another fish, a bit more substantial than the last.
15.40 Looks like a brown trout again.
372 takes it.
15.42 8B8 feeds first as 8B9 got most of the previous fish.16.11 Both chicks dipped in and out of the feed.
16.35
16.38
17.13
17.16 Looks like the end of the feed now.
17.15 LJ2 leaves the tower perch.
17.19 372 arrives and cleans her beak.
17.28 Bethan looking over the edge with 372 behind and Emrys lying down.
18.47 372 resting her eyes.
20.04 LJ2 brings another tiny fish to the nest. Perhaps he’s trying to make it easier for the youngsters to self feed.
A little head appears below to take the fish, it’s Bethan. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen her do this, it’s always been Emrys before.
Unfortunately as LJ2 pulls his talons back, the fish hasn’t been released properly and Bethan doesn’t get it.
372 then takes it in her beak.
20.05 but Bethan gets fed anyway. Emrys is busy preening.
20.06 Is that the fish finished already?! It really was tiny.
20.07 No, not finished, as Emrys balances on the thick stick, Bethan can be seen to be pecking at the fish in 372’s talons.
20.10 372 continues to feed Bethan.
20.21 That’s it finished now. Bethan steps back and flaps her wings. 372 then leaves the nest.
20.52 372 trying to place a springy branch she’s just brought in.
20.54 Then she starts shifting other pieces of nesting materials around.
The nest space is ever shrinking as it’s continually added to.
21.32 372 leaves
She lands on the tower perch.
21.36 I’m guessing this is Bethan flying over Emrys as I can’t see too clearly with the darkness falling.
21.53 LJ2 joined 372 on the perch, leaving 20 minutes later.
23.12 Just Bethan and Emrys on the nest at the moment. I think 372 is still on the tower perch.