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.
That’s a lovely photo Scylla with all the ducks/birds in the background too. Hopefully they’re testing it out with a view to switching. They did switch last year for the fledgings - both chicks within hours of each other!
12.16 Emrys was having fun testing out his flying skills.
You can just see his wing tip at the top of the screen! (Under the letter e!)
12.17 Emrys ate a little more of the fish.
12.22 He then had more fun flying about the nest. The wind is a bit stronger now than this morning.
12.23
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
I’ve got to go out for a while now.
Quick check and it doesn’t look like anyone’s fledged!13.22 372 was feeding the chicks.
BFN
Aw, no fledgings today! There’s always tomorrow.
14.47 The chicks have been self feeding.
15.55
The chicks have made their mark on the cam lens now that they come so close to the edge of the nest.
16.58 Bethan was first.
16.58 All four on the nest as LJ2 eats a fish. He may have shared with the chicks, they were up next to him anyway.
17.14
17.33
17.56
19.34 I think it’s Emyrs who gets the mark on the cam lens this time.
21.17 Lively brown trout brought in for supper by LJ2.
372 collects
21.19 She started the feed
21.21 then Bethan decided she wanted the fish
21.28 Bethan munching away.
21.36 We had a Lady and the Tramp moment with Bethan and 372 each taking an end of “spaghetti!”
21.38 Emrys pulls at a stringy bit in between Bethan and 372.
Bethan gets her own stringy bit.
21.41 372 gets closer and starts pulling pieces off the fish.
She then takes the fish and starts eating.
21.43 Bethan is shouting in her ear to be fed. Emrys is watching.
21.46 At last, she gets some
22.01 Bethan has had enough and moves away.
22.04 372 eats some more, she must’ve been hungry.
22.05 and then she’s finished too.
23.08 Current scene.
27 July
Good morning. Today Bethan is 55 days old and Emrys 53 days.
04.39 Daylight revealed both adult birds on the tower perch.
Emrys was first to take a feed from last night’s fish.
04.57
.
04.58 Bethan was having a lie in and a stretch,
05.06
05.07 Emrys left the fish and Bethan came for some.
05.07 LJ2 had left but 372 was still on the tower perch.
.05.18 That’s Bethan finished eating too now.
05.22 Time for important stuff! Bethan beats her wings and helicopters up
05.23
Touchdown for a second
and off again
12 seconds off the nest
Looks like both parents were around to see Bethan’s high helicoptering.
372 on the tower perch and LJ2 flying in the area.
05.23 LJ2 must’ve landed on the nest perch as he flew up from there a few seconds after Bethan’s big helicopter.
05.23 372 arrived on the nest.
05.25 She picked up the fish
05.28 Bethan and Emrys busy preening as 372 eats
05.33 Once sufficed, 372 left.
Now that everyone had eaten, it was LJ2’s turn and he came and took the fish away.
05.39 Emrys doing the head side to side thing as she looks into the water below.
06.53 Both chicks vocalising as LJ2 is incoming but it’s just a wee bunch of sticks he has.
07.01 Next, 372 brings in some sticks.
07.17 She then returns with some soft bedding.
07.25 All very relaxed.
08.13 Current scene, the youngsters are still preening.
09.14 One of the adults flies past the nest
and lands on the tree along from the nest. (Just above Bethan’s head)
09.30 About 15 minutes later, 372 arrives with a fish. She’s had a little for herself.
Bethan takes the fish from 372. LJ2 watches from the tree.
09.31 Bethan eats.
09.34 Emrys then takes the fish from Bethan.
09.48 Emrys still eating
09.50 Bethan goes over to Emrys, shouting that she wants the fish. She starts pecking at it.
Emrys holds on to the fish for a little longer.
09.55 Bethan gets it 5 minutes later.
10.11 Last few bites.
10.12 Bethan then walks away from the fish.
10.17 Bethan vocalises as she sees an incoming Osprey.
It’s LJ2. He lands perfectly on top of the fish.
Then leaves with it grasped in his left talons.
Aarrgghhh I missed the fledge! Skipped over it without noticing.
Brenig FB post this morning.
Link to Bethan’s fledge video
The fledge in photos
08.03 Bethan was flapping her wings
then up she went vertically
then down over the land and to the right.
Emrys watched.
08.05 A bit of a scramble back onto the nest a couple of minutes later.
Well done Bethan It sounded like 372 was on the cam pole?
Emrys’ response was some practising himself.
Up he goes.
08.06 Bethan watching
Emrys lands back on the nest.