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.
12.48 A short appearance on the nest from Emrys.
12.53 And he’s off again. The nest has been empty since. (Up to 15.03)
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
That was a long wait for the first fish today. It was 372 who brought it in.
16.02 Both juvies were already on the nest waiting.
16.03 Emrys got the fish.
16.32 Bethan stayed on the nest, hoping she’d get some.
16.59 However, once he’d had a good feed, Emrys took the fish off nest.
17.11 Bethan was in luck though. She didn’t have long to wait. LJ2 had just caught a fish and he brought it to her.
Bethan grabbed the fish.
Or so she thought, the fish dropped as Bethan held onto LJ2’s toe.
17.12 Still got his toe
Bethan releases her grip on LJ2
She looks at him. “Where’s my fish?”
Then she checks his talons.
A moment later, she looks down, sees the fish and pounces on it.
She is so happy and lets everyone know as she mantles over the fish.
17.13 She eats the fish on the nest.
17.26 Once finished, she flies off.
17.36 Bethan returned to the nest 10 minutes later.
17.45 She lay down for a bit.
18.26 Did some preening
19.28 Shouted for fish
then left.
19.39 Only to return a short while later announcing she’s still hungry.
19.50 Again, LJ2 responds but it’s a very small piece of fish he brings.
At leat he didn’t get his toe bitten this time and Bethan took the fish quickly.
19.51 She’s tucking in.
19.57 It doesn’t take long. There goes the tail fin.
She lets everyone know she’s still hungry.
20.23 Bethan is on the nest when 372 flies in. Bethan shouts at her for fish.
20.24 With all the noise going on, Emrys lands to add to it.
Then LJ2 arrives with the tiniest of fish on his right talons. I just can’t get a good image of it.
Bethan takes the fish in her beak and turns away from everyone to eat.
The family of 4 together but nobody is looking at the camera,
20.28 LJ2 leaves and then Emrys. 372 stays with Bethan.
20.30 It only takes 6 minutes to eat the fish and Bethan announces she’s finished.
20.34 When 372 left, she went to the tower perch.
20.51 She stayed just over 15 minutes then left to perch elsewhere for the night.
Bethan left the nest just after 372 and flew below it, possibly to the perch.
No one is sleeping on the nest tonight.