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.
The tower perch has been quiet this morning. LJ2 was there briefly at 08.00
09.01 372 landed on the nest with a headless fish, brown trout I’d say.09.02 Bethan quickly followed her on.
then Emrys arrived.
Bethan took the fish.
09.08 Emrys watches as Bethan munches away.
Hello, here’s another fish delivery. It’s LJ2 with a fresh brownie again I’d say.
Emrys takes the fish, it’s a live one.
09.09 That’s lovely, both juvies have a fish each. You’d think!Bethan can’t contain herself. Emrys’ fish looks better than hers!
Emrys pecks at her.
Emrys gives Bethan another warning.
Bethan is determined though and moves in again to take the fish.
Emrys makes contact on Bethan’s head
She gets the message this time.
Still watching, ignoring her own fish.
Another warning from Emrys.
09.11 Since it looks like Bethan’s not wanting her fish, LJ2 flies on to take it!
09.12 Now she has no fish and Emrys is still eating.
09.14 Bethan leaves the nest.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
09.34 Emrys gets 20 minutes peace before Bethan returns.09.37
09.44 After watching for 10 minutes, Bethan moves in to take the fish from Emrys’ talons.
She pulls hard and gets it
then starts eating straight away.
09.48 Emrys leaves
09.59 Bethan continues to feed and now swallows the tail end.
10.00 Then she’s off as well.
Some views from the PTZ cam.
10.55 LJ2 with the fish he took off the nest earlier.
10.56 close up
10.57 A view of the felled area with hide at the back right.
close up
10.58 372 nearby as well. She’s been preening.
11.56 LJ2 brought the half eaten fish that 372 had originally caught, back to the nest.
11.57 Emrys landed soon after. He didn’t vocalise or go to LJ2 to collect the fish so LJ2 left with it.
12.06 A few minutes later, Emrys landed on the nest. LJ2 came back with the fish.
This time, Emrys asked for it and took the fish off LJ2.
12.07 Bethan arrived.
12.27 Emrys fed and Bethan waited patiently this time, unlike earlier, to get her chance to eat the fish when Emrys left.
With Emrys gone, Bethan takes the fish.
13.03 She eats for half an hour then Emrys returns.
13.08 Bethan, finished eating, glided off to the tree.
13.24 Emrys didn’t touch the fish. Around 15 minutes later 372 arrived.
13.26 It looks like Emrys was waiting for his mum to feed him!13.45 Well there’s no show without Punch! 20 minutes later Bethan joined Emrys and 372.
13.51 However 372 continued feeding Emrys although Bethan was asking.
13.52 And between Emrys and 372, they finished off the fish.
372 goes fishing again. 15.35 she arrives with a good sized fish.
15.36 Emrys comes to the nest first
Then Bethan arrives.
Bethan took the fish off 372 straight away.
15.40 Bethan eating
15.41 Emrys decided to take the fish off Bethan. His confidence has grown so much over the last wee while.
15.44
16.22
16.45 Emrys is still eating
16.51 Emrys was slowing down eating when 372 tried to take the fish.
Emrys warned her off.
16.55 372 left and then Bethan soon after.
17.10 Bethan was back 15 minutes later, Emrys was still eating the fish.
17.22 Bethan lay down for a bit.
17.34 Finally Emrys steps off the fish
17.35 and Bethan can take it.
LJ2 landed on the tower perch at 17.12.
18.00 He’s stayed in the same position since! I think he’s waiting on the fish!18.25 Bethan is still eating. The weather has got worse with the wind and rain.
18.52 LJ2 leaves the tower perch.
and 372 arrives on the nest. She goes towards Bethan
372 takes the fish.
Surprisingly she flies straight off with it.
The youngsters can only watch.
Thar's a lovely clear picture on the tower perch view, shame the nest cam is so murky, has it recently been poo'd on?
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
19.45 LJ2 arrives at the nest with half a fish. I don’t know if he’s taken it from 372 or if he’s caught and half eaten another!Bethan took the fish.
19.47
19.50 Emrys left
19.54:Bethan still eating
20.22 She’s now finished eating and leaves the nest just under a minute later.
20.23