LLYN BRENIG 2 July 2024 - FEBRUARY 2025

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!

     

     2013 photos & vids here

    eff37 on Flickr

  • Me too Wendy, you know who is the boss in this family! Laughing

  • 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.

    ©️NWWT, WW, BOP

  • 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.


    ©️NWWT, WW, BOP

  • 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.


    18.31


    Someone’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.

    ©️NWWT, WW, BOP

  • 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.


    ©️NWWT, WW, BOP

  • 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.


    ©️NWWT, WW, BOP

  • 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.


    ©️NWWT, WW, BOP

  • 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.


    ©️NWWT, WW, BOP