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
Chicks fledged 28/07/24 (54 days old) - 27/07/24 (55days old)
MIGRATIONS
8B8 Emrys - 03/09/24 (92days old) / 372 03/09/24 (3years old)
8B9 Bethan 06/09/24 (96 days old) / LJ2 last seen on the evening of 06/09/24 so probably left 07/09/24 (6 years old)
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.
16.01 LJ2 arrived with a headless fish. He got a warm welcome. That’s some set of lungs Bethan has!
Even after she took the fish, she was still vocalising with her beak shut!
16.04 Emrys tried to take the fish off Bethan but she held tight.
16.12 Emrys amused himself practising flying as Bethan ate.
16.14 He then managed to take the fish off Bethan.
16.16
16.18 Emrys stopped eating, looking over the water.
He then pancaked over the fish. Bethan stayed upright.
16.25 Emrys was up again.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
16.27 He didn’t stay up for long then lay back on the fish.
16.44 Emrys was up and eating the fish again.
17.01 372 had arrived and took the fish from Emrys as he released his grip.
17.03 She then fed Emrys.
17.15 Bethan came for a feed later.
and between the 3 of them, the fish was finished.
19.37 Emrys shows off his beautiful wings in the setting sun.
19.50 Bethan shows mum what she’d learned to do today.
She had an 8 second fly over the top of 372 and Emrys. My guess is Bethan will fledge tomorrow!
20.01 LJ2 was inbound with a fish.
He had already eaten the head.
Emrys was closest to where LJ2 had landed and pulled a piece of loose flesh off the body.
20.02 Emrys then pulled at the skin
and took the fish.
372 tried to take it from Emrys but was unsuccessful.
20.06 Bethan was able to take the fish a few minutes later.
20.08 Emrys found some slithers of fish on his talons.20.20 Bethan still eating.
20.27 Emrys moved in to the left of Bethan.
He managed to take the fish.
20.40 372 finally got the fish
and they all got some fish.
21.47 The rain came on and the day finished as it had started.
23.55 372 is on the nest now with the wee ones tucked in.
Glider said:She had an 8 second fly over the top of 372 and Emrys. My guess is Bethan will fledge tomorrow!
IMAGICAT
26 July
Good morning and thanks for the video Scylla.
Let’s see today if my prediction is correct! (Not normally I might add!!)
06.12 372 visits the nest.
07.23 Lots of wingercising. It’s a beautiful morning with a breeze. Perfect day for fledging!
08.31
09.03 Bethan spreads her wings and tail and holds for a few seconds.
Then flies over to join Emrys.
09.35 372 is heard vocalising as LJ2 flies in with a fish, landing on the tree along from the nest.
10.19 Here’s the delivery of the now headless fish.
Emrys stretches as 372 takes the fish.
10.20 Bethan feeds first
10.24 but walks away after 4 minutes.
10.27 Emrys is a bit preoccupied preening
10.28 then goes to mum to be fed.
10.34 He doesn’t eat for long either.
10.35
10.40 372 eats some more, Emrys fiddles with a piece of bark.
10.41 372 leaves.
.
Last night I started downloading the PTZ again, just in case any fledgers land on that perch - then this morning I saw this view and rather hoped they'd keep it, but no, it's back to perch. We'd have been able to see more of the fledge flights. Please, NRW/LlynBrenig - install another cam
10.43 Bethan goes over to have some fish.
10.50 She then does some helicoptering from one side of the nest to the other then back again.
11.18 LJ2 flies on
He’s not after the fish though. He goes straight into intruder mode, mantling and chipping.
All eyes to the skies.
11.21 LJ2 leaves after 3 minutes.
11.24 Bethan and Emrys remain pancaked.
11.33 It’s a tiring business!
12.03 Both get up together.
12.48 The parents on the tower perch together. 372 is giving LJ2 a look!