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.
LJ2 was on the tower perch. He left at 13.12
and arrived at the nest to do some tidying.
16.25 The nest was empty until Bethan arrived calling for fish.
LJ2 landed with a headless fish.
Bethan took the fish quickly and mantled.
LJ2 left and landed on the tower perch.
16.26 Emrys arrived on the nest. I wondered where he was.
16.27 Emrys might have been making more noise than Bethan!
16.36 He waited for his chance to take the fish. Bethan had paused eating to look at something.
Emrys managed to pull the fish from Bethan’s talons.
16.38 Bethan cleans her beak as Emrys eats.
17.03 Bethan stayed on the nest then left suddenly making an alarm call.
Emrys looked up then behind
and he shot off with the fish.
An Osprey flew from the water side
past the nest to the right at speed.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
17.07 Emergency over, Bethan was soon back on the nest.
17.17 She left and returned, she did some preening. It looks like Emrys is eating his fish on the tree.
19.04 Bethan was back again in full fish calling mode.
It was only Emrys who landed.
19.31 They both decided to stay there.
19.51 Lying together, both have been calling for fish.
Emrys leaves
20.00 then Bethan a few minutes later.
20.17 Bethan returned to the nest and waited.
20.19 She was right to do so as LJ2 soon arrived with a fish. A wee perch.
You can see Emrys flying in as Bethan takes the fish.
Emrys is too late as Bethan has a good grip of the fish now.
20.20 Bethan eats and Emrys waits.
20.40 Emrys shouts that he’d like some. He’s not had much today.
20.43 The fish isn’t big enough to share and Bethan has it all then leaves.