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.
It wasn’t until 16.10 that Emrys got a fish courtesy of LJ2.
Emrys was in prime position to take the fish.
16.26 Bethan watched and vocalised
16.27 She grabbed the fish with her beak but Emrys held tight and kept it.
16.42 Once finished he flew off.
16.44 Bethan lay down after checking there was nothing left to eat.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
18.39 Bethan just had a couple of hours to wait for a feed. 372 brought in a super sized headless fish.
Bethan snatched it immediately
18.40
19.07 Emrys is still watching as Bethan eats. ©️NWWT, WW, BOP
19.39 Emrys took the fish from Bethan.
19.42 Bethan left as Emrys tucked in.
19.49 She wasn’t away long and soon returned.
20.36 Emrys still eating, Bethan leaving again.
20.37 Emrys has walked away from the fish.
He needs to tidy his bedroom area!
20.38 LJ2 arrives for the fish. Emrys isn’t too happy, he vocalises and pecks at LJ2.
LJ2 takes the fish.
20.39 Emrys needn’t have fretted as the next minute, mum arrived with a very meaty headless fish.
She does catch the big ones!
Bethan quickly arrived.
20.40 372 starts feeding Emrys.
20.58 Bethan still vocalising. 372 has stepped off the fish.
Emrys continues to ask 372 to be fed. She picks up a few pieces to give him but doesn’t go back to the fish.
21.01 Bethan finally goes over and starts eating the fish.
21.29 Emrys has settled down and Bethan is still eating.
21.33 Bethan calls it a day and leaves.
She retires to her tree for the night. Emrys is left guarding the fish!
23.09 Emrys sleeping.
7 August
Good morning. Emrys paid no attention to the fish when he got up this morning. It was still there when he left at 05.06
05.57 Bethan was the first to the nest to claim the fish.
05.58 Emrys then joined her.
06.13 He was asking for some.
06.17 He then found something on the nest to eat. He must’ve been lying on it last night!
06.27 On finishing that, Emrys left.
06.46 He returned, Bethan was still eating.
06.31 Bethan releases the fish and leaves soon after.
06.32 372 comes to the nest.
06.46 Emrys joins his mum.
372 starts feeding him straight away.
07.15 Once finished, they both left with some fish still remaining.
07.41 Bethan returned for some more.
08.10 She leaves half an hour later.
Seeing all his family have fed, LJ2 then collects the fish.
09.42 LJ2 must’ve finished the fish off and then arrived at the tower perch.
The first fish caught today arrived at courtesy of 372.
The juvies had been on and off the nest. They were here together at 14.30.
14.59 Bethan left and a minute later 372 arrived with a large headless fish.
Emrys took the fish.
15.01
15.41 Bethan joined Emrys.
16.03 Emrys steps off the fish.
It’s Bethan’s turn to eat now.
17.24 Bethan leaves when she’s had enough and flies to her tree.
17.26 372 came to nest after Bethan left.
17.38 Emrys joined her.
372 started feeding him.
17.58
18.00 She even game Emrys the tail fin at the end of the feed.
20.03 The 2 juvies have since been sitting together on the nest for spells.
20.34 LJ2 came to the tower perch and cleaned his beak. Has he had a sneaky fish and not shared it?!
20.53 The juvies were asking for another fish.
21.18 But no fish has arrived.
22.23 Emrys lies alone on the nest.