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.
11.32 LJ2 returns with the fish.
11.34 After LJ2 released the fish and left, Emrys picked it up.
11.44 still eating
12.04 About 15 minutes after Emrys finished eating, Bethan took the fish.
12.29 And that’s her finished.©️NWWT, WW, BOP
12.44 Bethan had another wee flight.
She flew upwards, had a millisecond touchdown on the nest then up again
and flew over towards the tree.
The landing feet are out!
And she manages to land safely.
Emrys is just itching to go as well after watching his sister.
12.49 More practising.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
13.55 372 dropped by the nest with a mossy stick. Emrys was here alone with Bethan still on the tree.
I think Bethan likes the new view, still here!14.50 Emrys looking over at her from the nest.
.
Glider said:Aarrgghhh I missed the fledge! Skipped over it without noticing.
I'm not a bit surprised - what with the wind and the liveliness and the smudges and the jiggliness of it...
Here's my fledge video - obviously much better than the professionals' version and I'm saying that before I've even done it
Hope you don't mind hanging on for an hour or three
... ... ...
Yer tiz - I tagged on one of Bethan's visits to the corvids' tree:
I wouldn't be surprised if Emys had gone by now but am packing up no matter what!
IMAGICAT
Great news Glider
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr