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.
16.51 Oh no, Emrys returned to the nest without the fish. It was such a big one too.
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©️NWWT, WW, BOP
17.50 Emrys was a very lucky boy. After much calling, Bethan had left the nest and LJ2 arrived with another large headless fish.
Emrys took the fish.
Bethan returned a few seconds later.
18.10 Thankfully Emrys chose to eat on the nest this time.
18.53 Emrys left the fish and walked to the side.
18.54 Bethan took the fish.
19.10 Bethan eating.
19.37 The weather is still awful, so very windy.
19.44 Bethan has finished eating and flies off.
19.46 She doesn’t stay away long
20.02 The 2 youngsters lay together.
21.00 Still here.22.48 This will be the first night Bethan spends on the nest in a long time. I wonder if it’s because of the very strong winds?
20 August
Good morning. The juvies stayed on the nest all night and got up together. 05.22 They got themselves sorted and they were off.
05.50 Back on the nest for a quick preen.
07.46 Bethan was alone on the nest when LJ2 arrived with her breakfast.
07.47 LJ2 left her to it. She was letting everyone know she had a fish. She ate on the nest uninterrupted.
08.38 Last few nibbles.
08.40 Then she’s off, leaving the fish behind.
09.11 Emrys can’t be in the area as it was LJ2 came for the fish half an hour later.
He took it away
Two seconds later Bethan came flying over the water, vocalising.
Too late, it’s gone!©️NWWT, WW, BOP
09.56 Ah here’s our boy.
09.59 Emrys hung around the nest.
10.12 LJ2 heard his calls and brought the remainder of the fish to the nest.
Emrys took it.
10.12 Bethan arrived.
10.32 Emrys ate for 20 minutes then left with the fish.
LJ2 was on the tower perch this morning for a few long spells.
10.35
11.47
12.35 Just chillin’
12.51 Emrys joined him
12.58 a bit of preening
13.24 Some shut eye
14.55 Bethan spent some of the afternoon on the nest.
15.26
15.51
16.31
17.33 Emrys joined Bethan when 372 was seen incoming carrying something. It was just soft nesting.
17.34 372 was very watchful and Bethan started mantling, then shouting.
17.35 Something unseen was above.
17.42 After a few minutes, 372 flew off.
17.45 The 2 juvies stayed on the nest and LJ2 brought in a wee fish a few minutes later.
Although Emrys was closer to LJ2, it was Bethan who raced over and took it.
She mantled over the fish.
17.59 Emrys waited as Bethan ate.
18.00 There was just a small tail piece left which Bethan clutched in her right talons and flew off with.
18.53 The next fish was brought in by 372 and was a much better size.
Both juvies grabbed it and pulled.
18.54 Emrys won in the end.
18.55
19.29 Emrys stops eating,19.30 takes the fish to the other side of the nest
then leaves with it.
19.32 Bethan arrives on the nest.
20.02 She decides to wait.
20.03 Emrys returns with the fish.
20.21 Bethan starts calling as she sees 372 incoming.
But there’s nothing in her talons.
20.33 Bethan continues to wait as Emrys eats.
20.47 Finally he steps off the fish.
20.48 It’s Bethan’s turn to feed now.