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
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.
20.16 It’s been pretty quiet for the last couple of hours. 372 has been on the nest a few times.
20.51 An Osprey was seen flying in from the left
When a twig appeared from above, held in the talons of LJ2.
20.52 LJ2 landed, with 372 a split second after.
LJ2 places the twig
21.29 372 currently on the nest with Bethan and Emrys.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
25 July
Good morning. A late night fish delivery arrived at 21.55. Vision was pretty poor.
372 took the fish
21.57 Difficult to see what was going on.
22.00 372 and at least one of the chicks ate.
22.12 The feed stopped.
372 stayed until 01.07, returned at 01.34 then left again 14 minutes later.
01.57 Both chicks preening for a short while then settling down again.
05.20 It looked like 372 had spent the rest of the night on the tower perch.
05.20 In the morning day light, the fish could be seen on the nest.
LJ2 arrived to claim it.
05.21 372 flew down from the tower perch and past the nest on the water’s side.
05.22 She arrived at the nest and took it he fish from LJ2.
05.24
05.29 Again, 372 and at least one of the chicks ate.
05.32 372 left.
Both chicks looked at the fish and it was Emrys who picked it up first.
05.33
He only had a peck or 2 then left it. Bethan then took the fish.
05.34 She ate for a wee while
05.41
05.45 One of the adults flew below the nest to the left.
05.49 Bethan leaves the fish and outstretches her wings, feeling the wind.
05.50 Emrys lifts the fish with his left talons along with a clump of grass.
05.51 He moves backwards step by step and brings it this side of the nest and starts eating.
05.57 Bethan watching Emrys eating.
06.02 Emrys releases the fish.
06.04 He settles down behind Bethan. The fish is to her right.
06.07 LJ2 returns to take the fish
06.08 He’s successful this time.
06.33 LJ2 was back with the fish half an hour later.
06.34 He ate some then 372 arrived.
It was Bethan though who took the fish from LJ2. She ate for 5 minutes.
06.39 372 watched until Bethan released the fish.
06.49 372 then took the fish.
06.42 372 ate some and Emrys came over and got some too.
06.51 Bethan then came over and it looks like she took the fish again.
06.57 Emrys watching his sister eat.
06.59 Bethan lay down. Emrys is in front of her, I don’t know if there was fish left or not.
07.00 372 arrives with a twig that lands on Bethan’s back.
07.01 372 then does some stick shifting around the nest.
07.10 think 372’s brought in an actual tree this time!
Not the easiest to place. Wings going everywhere.
07.15 The chicks try to help.
It just gets left lying through the middle of the nest.
07.17 The chicks start preening.
07.57 After a preen and a rest, the chicks between them, manage to move the “tree” over a bit.
07.59
08.00
10.42 Fish delivery from LJ2
10.44 and feed
10.56
Sorry to see it's the same ol' grotty weather here, you do well to make out the detail Glider!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr