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)
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.
13.57 Bethan touched base. She left again in under a minute.14.06 372 arrived a few minutes later. She started fish calling.
14.07 LJ2 brought in a whole mullet?
It’s the first time in a while 372 has taken a fish from LJ2 on an empty nest!
14.08 After LJ2 left, Bethan arrived. She made herself heard “FISH, FISH”
14.09 Bethan tried to take the fish.
14.10 but 372 wasn’t for giving it up.
372 won this battle.
14.11 Emrys then arrived on the outer edge of the nest. His first nest landing since fledging!
He moved over to safer footing.
Bethan was being fed by 372.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
14.13 Bethan continued to get fed. Emrys stood beside 372 but was ignored.
14.20 Emrys moved the the middle.
14.33 Back to the side.
14.36 After getting no fish, Emrys just took it from 372.
14.38 Hello Bethan.
14.39 372 moved closer to take the fish, Emrys pecked her head, making contact.
14.40 Bethan flew off.
372 flew off soon after.
15.05 372 returned
15.06 She went too near Emrys and he warned her off.
15.16 When Emrys released the fish, 372 took it and ended up feeding Emrys.
15.17 he walked away and cleaned his beak. 372 finished off the fish and shouted for more.
15.52 Emrys stayed on the nest. It looked like he pancaked after looking skywards.
Didn’t come to anything.
16.15 Looking skywards again.
16.42
16.57 Big sister Bethan joined him.
17.45
18.12 They lay down together at one point.
18.20 372 joined them for a few minutes.
19.49 Emrys on the nest with Bethan behind him on the tree with the beautiful sunset behind her.
19.51 Bethan flew to the tower perch.
20.34 Bethan returns to the nest.
She’s shouting for fish.
20.50 372 came to the nest.
LJ2 flew in with supper a few seconds later to a raucous reception.
Bethan found herself nearest to the fish and took it.
372 tried to take it from her but Bethan held onto it.
21.38 Bethan so far is the only one to have eaten. She’s still happily munching away, Emrys is lying down and 372 shouting for another fish.
21.38
..
8B8 EMRYS's FLEDGE
IMAGICAT
21.39 372 stopped shouting and decided to barge in and take the fish and she got it.
21.40 372 offered pieces to Bethan but she wasn’t interested. Emrys came forward and got fed.
21.55 He didn’t eat for the last minute so turned away.
372 continued to eat the fish.22.01 This looks like the last of the fish being swallowed now.
372 stayed for a wee while longer then left at 22.08.
22.49 Current scene with the youngsters cuddled in to each other.
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scylla said:8B8 EMRYS's FLEDGE
Lovely wee video Scylla thanks. It was a beautiful day for fledging. Nice that the PTZ cam showed both Bethan and Emrys afterwards.