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.
13.54 Emrys comes to the nest clutching a piece of fish.
Bethan follows him on.
14.07 Emrys eats most of the fish and leaves a little piece on the nest.
14.11 Bethan doesn’t pick up the small piece of fish. deciding to moves sticks instead.
14.13 The fish, looks like the tail fin, is under Bethan’s talons but she doesn’t grip it and flies off to her tree.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
14.41 Emrys did some tidying of his bed area.
He then settled down in the space he’d cleared and waited.
15.13 372 arrived with some nesting materials then
15.32 LJ2 came with a fish.
Emrys takes the fish.
15.37 tucking in
16.51 After a long feed, he’s had enough and releases the fish.
He cleans his beak against a stick.
16.52 then leaves the nest.
He flies down to a place I’ve not seen them use before!
The weather just hasn’t let up today. Hopefully all the smudges will be cleaned from the cam lens!
18.57 The 2 youngsters are on the nest. Bethan is shouting for fish.
19.07 They decide to lie down and wait.
19.58 About an hour later, 372 arrives with a headless fish.
Although the fish was nearest to Emrys, it was Bethan (right) who came forward and took it.
20.00 Bethan (right) eating and Emrys waiting.
20.47 Bethan has finished eating
20.48 Emrys takes the fish. Bethan leaves.
20.49 One of the adults arrives and leaves shortly after.
21.22 Emrys continues eating as it gets darker.
21.24
21.25 Emrys is finished now.
21.28 Aw, he’s moving sticks again to make his bed comfy!
21.29 And he gets settled down.
23.07 The rain is still driving down. Hope it’s dry tomorrow as vision today has been difficult!
9 August
Good morning. Emrys was up early and away at 04.46 whilst night cam was still on.
05.25 Bethan came first to the nest to get a feed from last night’s fish.
05.45 She ate for about 20 minutes, finishing off with a ribbon of skin.
05.46 Bethan then left.
05.46 LJ2 arrived soon after and took the fish tail end off the nest.
It’s been a fairly quiet day.
11.28 Bethan has spent long spells resting on the nest.
12.20 372 was asking for fish.
14.27 Bethan resting again.
15.06 372 flies on to join Bethan.
15.11 She spots something and starts mantling. Bethan gets up to join her.
372 now flapping furiously and shouting.
It doesn’t last long and she is soon quiet again. 15.24 As 372 continues to remain on the nest, Bethan starts asking for fish.
15.37 372 stays on the nest a little longer then leaves with Bethan’s calls ringing in her ears.
16.15 Bethan left then returned to the nest.
She had a bit of a preen.
16.16 Emrys then joined her.
16.17 He decided to rest whilst Bethan was preening.
16.32 Bethan then joined Emrys.
16.36 They were still laying together when Bethan spotted LJ2 incoming and she started fish calling.
It was just a small fish.
Both Bethan and Emrys went for it.
372 then arrived
16.37 It’s a Tug o’ War (Bethan nearest the camera)
Bethan wins.
Just look at Emrys’ face!
16.39 Bethan is tucking in.
16.51 Bethan ate the whole fish with Emrys and 372 watching.
17.03 She dropped the tail fin and picked it up again to swallow.
Come on LJ2, we need a much larger fish next time!