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.
Bethan and Emrys had been waiting on the nest.
14.15 372 flew in with a headless fish.
The 2 youngsters both grabbed the fish
14.16 They pulled and pulled and it was Bethan who got it.
14.19
14.41 Emrys waited and watched as Bethan ate.
14.51 He took his chance and grabbed the fish
14.52 and took it to the other side of the nest to eat.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
15.14 Bethan left and returned quickly when LJ2 arrived with a small fish.
She took the fish.
Two happy youngsters.
16.43 Once these fish were finished, the two were back at the nest again.
Bethan left at 17.02. Emrys stayed but Bethan returned a few seconds before LJ2 arrived with a fish.17.34
Both went for it.
Bethan won again.
LJ2 flew to the tower perch
.17.49 Emrys stayed on the nest as she ate.
17.50 Bethan decided to continue eating elsewhere.
NWWT, WW, BOP
18.07 Emrys left then returned and had a lie down.
18.51 Later he decided to get up and found a dried up piece of skin.
He tackled it again but couldn’t eat it. 18.53 He left the nest and the skin was caught in his talons. It fell off.
18.57 He returned to the nest, then had a lie down again.
19.29 The next time he got up was to greet 372 who was bringing in a meaty fish.
She is so good at fishing for big ones!
Emrys quickly took the fish.
19.30
20.13 Emrys stayed on the nest to eat.
20.36 372 dropped by
20.43 but Emrys wasn’t ready to stop eating so she left again.
20.59 He brought the fish to the centre of the nest for a last few bites.
21.01 Then he left, leaving the fish behind.
21.12 372 must be hungry tonight. She came for the fish.
21.18 She ate some of it on the nest.
21.22 Then left with it.