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.
11.57 372 landed on the nest, followed by Bethan. They were both fish calling as they saw LJ2 fly in from over the water.
372 collects the fish.
11.58 Emrys arrives.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
Was very pleased to see Emrys getting fed yesterday, his crop was so incurving ... Bethan doesn't go without, that's pretty evident!
Me too Wendy, you know who is the boss in this family!
12.03 Both of the juvies fed well from the lunchtime fish and were happy for 372 to feed them.
12.12 They fed at the same time
12.43 Then got individual feeds and Emrys was first to leave when satisfied.
His crop looking a bit fuller than earlier.
12.44 After Emrys left, LJ2 flew on and started chipping, leaving soon after.
12.47 372 and Bethan paused then resumed feeding.
13.02 Bethan left when she’d had enough
13.23 372 continued eating until the fish was finished.
Bethan got herself into a bit of a pickle on the nest.
She had been raking about for leftover scraps and picked something up in her left talons.
It seemed to get stuck and she was jumping up and down vocalising and alarm calling.
14.47
14.48 She managed to release it. It looked like a wee piece of bark fell out.
17.09 Later in the afternoon, LJ2 came to the nest. Skydancing could be heard. LJ2 started chipping.
17.10 372 joined him to defend.
17.12 Things calmed down quite quickly and 372 left.
17.15 LJ2 stayed for a bit longer. He did some tidying
17.19 then he left as well.
17.33 372 on the tower perch.
.
17.34 She leaves
17.40 LJ2 comes to the perch. Looks like he’s had a dip.
A wee bit of a preen.
17.41 Off he goes.
17.48 Skydancing can be heard. Emrys lands on the nest
He lays low mantling
17.49 Bethan joins him
She is mantling and vocalising
Aww, they’re defending their nest! 17.50 It would be a brave Osprey who’d land here to face up to Bethan!17.56 Things quieten down.18.14 They stay there resting for some time
18.21 Hello, who’s this?Blue 416, one of 3 born in the Lake District, 2020. (UK Osprey Information)
18.21 Meanwhile on the nest, Bethan was shouting up to him
18.22
He stayed for a few minutes
18.26
18.29 Looking down at Bethan and Emrys
Bethan is still shouting.
18.31Someone’s coming, time to go!
18.49 The youngsters are still here
18.55 Time to get up
18.57 Bethan leaves first
18.58 Emrys departs.
I guess LJ2 and 372 were in the sky and Bethan and Emrys did so well defending their nest.
One of life’s lessons for them.
19.27 Emrys and Bethan on the nest shouting for fish. They’re both hungry.
20.10 The full welcoming committee were here for LJ2’s arrival.
Bethan and 372 both grab the fish. Looks like a jack pike.
Bethan wins.
20.11 Bethan tucking in with Emrys vocalising.
20.17 Emrys tries to take the fish but is unsuccessful.
20.24 Bethan still munching away, closely watched by her brother.
20.27 Emrys has managed to take the fish this time.
20.30 Bethan has been asking for more fish.
20.33 Emrys down to the last piece.
All done.
23.56 That’s it for the night, 372 and Bethan stayed for a bit but both left and Emrys chose to sleep on the nest again.
2 August
Good morning. Emrys was up and away very early this morning after some helicoptering in the wind
04.36.
04.38
05.42 372 was doing some nest tidying, LJ2 not around to make the bed!
05.52 LJ2’s been fishing. 372 and Emrys on the nest.
372 takes the fish then Bethan arrives
05.53 Bethan grabs at the fish and she and 372 have a tussle
05.54 Bethan wins
Bethan moves the fish to this side of the nest.
05.58 Bethan enjoying the fish, Emrys watching closely.
06.13 Emrys moves in to take it
but Bethan holds firm
06.14 Emrys tries again
still Bethan manages to hold onto the fish.
06.16 Emrys has another attempt
Unsuccessful again.
06.24 Bethan still feeding, Emrys still watching.
06.36 Another attempt from Emrys, his head appears under Bethan to snatch the fish.
and finally he gets it.
06.39 Bethan left a few minutes later
06.40 Emrys enjoying his feed.
06.41 372 got too close for Emrys’ liking and he snapped at her a few times.
06.49 372 kept her distance. 06.59
07.01 372 was tracking something above then took off.
07.02 Emrys still eating
07.11 and the tail fin is swallowed.
07.12 He leaves and goes to the tree along from the nest.
A catch up on the day so far.
10.32 LJ2 defending the nest against an unseen intruder
11.11 372 comes to the tower perch with a headless fish.
11.16 She ate some then left
11.18 372 didn’t take the fish to the nest so she either ate it all or transferred to one of the juvies elsewhere.
14.51 A fish delivery from LJ2
372 received it then Emrys arrived.
14.52
Bethan then arrived, landing straight in front of 372. She took the fish.
15.11 Bethan eating with Emrys watching.
15.12 Bethan ate the whole fish, swallowing the last piece here.
17.46 The youngsters take their afternoon rest. It’s very windy now.
18.32 They’re still resting when an adult bird flies up from a nearby tree.
It flies past the nest carrying a sizeable fish
Bethan and Emrys stand up as 372 arrives with her headless fish.
Emrys (right) manages to take the fish. He’ll be far hungrier than Bethan.
Bethan does though try to snatch it
but Emrys pulls harder and keeps it.
18.34 Emrys enjoys a good feed.
19.05
19.07 Bethan was in luck as LJ2 then arrived with a wee fish.
19.08
19.09 Nice to see both youngsters eating together.