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)
MIGRATIONS
8B8 Emrys - 03/09/24 (92days old) / 372 03/09/24 (3years old)
8B9 Bethan 06/09/24 (96 days old) / LJ2 last seen on the evening of 06/09/24 so probably left 07/09/24 (6 years 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 stayed on the tower perch until 21.07 then left.
21.11 Bethan ate a little longer.
21.12 then released what was left of the fish and left.
Looks like nobody is sleeping on the tower perch or nest tonight.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
21 August
Good morning.Today Bethan is 80 days old and Emrys 78.
05.48 They arrived at the nest more or less together.
Emrys went straight for the fish skin that was left last night. You can just see his head behind Bethan.
05.52 He didn’t try too hard to eat it and let it go. Bethan then stepped in to take it.
05.55 She ended up flying off with it.
06.25 Bethan returned, the fish skin is gone so hopefully she managed to eat it all.
The first fish of the day was delivered to Emrys who had been resting on the nest.
09.07 372 brought in a good sized catch.
Emrys was very excited to receive it.
09.12
LJ2 came to the nest. He hung about for a few minutes.
09.19 Emrys took his fish to the other side of the nest.
09.38 Emrys left with his fish.
Bethan had been on the nest calling for fish.
11.08 372 arrived with another beauty, it was very wriggly.
Bethan dived in to take it
but she grabbed 372’s toe instead.
The fish was flapping about the nest, Bethan squealing still with 372’s toe in her beak.
11.09 Finally, Bethan released 372 who then went to retrieve the fish.
Bethan pulled to take the fish off 372. At the same time, LJ2 arrived with a headless fish.
What a commotion!
With the 2 females in a flap over the other fish, LJ2 backed off with his.
Bethan got the fish from 372. 372 noticed LJ2 leaving with his.
He flew off under the nest and over the water.
11.10 372 left and Bethan tucked in.
11.27 LJ2 arrived with his fish again. Bethan mantled over hers.LJ2 started looking upwards and was chipping.
11.29 He left a couple of minutes later. Bethan continued eating.
11.58 Emrys was next to visit. He must’ve finished his fish.
LJ2 arrived with his delivery again. This fish is clocking up the miles!
No takers, LJ2 took the fish away.
12.07 Emrys has left, Bethan continues eating on the nest.
12.36 She goes to the other side and decides to take the fish elsewhere to eat.
14.04 Emrys and 372 fly in together. 372 has a fish.
Emrys doesn’t try to take the fish and 372 is happy to feed him.
14.08
14.34 After about half an hour, LJ2 flies in with a fish. I have no idea if it’s the same one from earlier or a new one!
14.35 Emrys (left) is keen to take it. Then 372 walks away from her fish.
14.36 372 flies to the tower perch.
LJ2 has left as well. Emrys is thinking about it.
14.38 He stays a little longer then leaves with his fish.
14.43 LJ2 joined 372 on the tower perch.
The fish that 372 brought has been on the nest unattended since she left it.
16.45 LJ2 swoops in and carries the fish away without stopping.
17.07 372 arrives at the nest. She picks up the scraps that those 2 messy youngsters have left!
17.12
She calls to LJ2 to get her fish back.
17.36 She waits but he doesn’t come, so she leaves again.
18.03 Bethan is back at the nest. She decides to lay low.
18.34 372 joins her for a short while.
18.41 Bethan leaves
19.02 She returns to the nest and a few seconds later, Emrys flies up backward from the nest perch to join her
19.05 They lay down together. The weather is pretty awful.
19.15
19.52 Currently still there, calling for fish. They both have had good fish today but that’s not to say they’ve managed to eat them all. ©️NWWT, WW, BOP
19.56 After being on the nest for almost an hour, Bethan got up and left, flying to the tree.
She then left the tree and flew to the nest perch. (Bottom left)
20.09 Emrys decided to wait on the nest. It paid off. LJ2 soon arrived with a headless fish.
Emrys collected the fish.
20.10 Bethan arrived.
Emrys mantled over his fish.
LJ2 left, Bethan stayed as Emrys ate.
20.24 Emrys didn’t eat for too long. He lifted his wings and backed off the fish.
20.26 Bethan moved forward and started eating the fish.
20.46 Bethan still eating. Emrys settled down behind her.
Bethan ate until 20.51 then settled down beside her brother who was already lying on the nest.
20.54
21.20 They’re still here. Perhaps they’ll stay over again because of the wind which is buffeting their feathers.
No one on the tower perch again tonight.
22 August
Good morning. It’s a very windy one. The 2 youngsters stayed overnight lying on the nest.
05.51
06.15 Bethan ate the remains of the fish from last night.
Both adults have been on the tower perch for short spells, holding tight as the wind blew towards them.
06.01 372
06.22 LJ2
07.40 Bethan and Emrys shouting for fish. They have been on and off the nest together and individually.
It’s been quite quiet on the nest and tower perch. I haven’t seen a fish delivery yet.
11.04 372 flew in with a clump of moss, quickly followed by the 2 juvies, hoping for a fish.