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.
08.51 The 2 juvies were together again on the nest fish calling.
09.03 LJ2 flew in with a fish. Bethan was right next to where the fish landed.
She quickly took it.
09.06 She opted to eat at the other side of the nest. Emrys watched.10.01 Emrys waited and was fish calling as Bethan ate.
10.02 Bethan raised her wings as she stopped eating and released the fish.
She then picked the fish up in her beak and turned with it.
She pulled the fish towards Emrys and dropped it. Was she actually giving it to him?
Emrys was happy to accept the fish.
Bethan left.
10.08 Emrys left a few minutes later, taking the fish with him.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
10.59 LJ2 pays a visit to the tower perch.
11.27 He left then Emrys arrived a few minutes after for a short stay.
11.49 LJ2 returned and Emrys joined him. The boys chillin’ together.
The nest has been pretty quiet.
14.49 The PTZ cam finds the ospreys elsewhere. Favoured posts. 372 top and LJ2 bottom?
15.06 Together now.
15.09
LJ2 leaves
and lands at the tower perch.
15.18
It’s Bethan on the nest.
15.34 Emrys back on the tower perch.
16.41 The 2 youngsters were on the nest waiting.
17.32
17.40 Incoming fish calls fill the air!
It’s LJ2 with their evening meal.
17.41 Bethan takes the fish.
17.54 Emrys continued to call for fish.
18.31
18.36 Bethan wanted all of the fish this time and took it off nest as Emrys watched.
18.57 Emrys waited and called
19.23 and called
but it was only Bethan who came and the fish was finished.
19.43 Emrys still called.
20.31 He left the nest a couple of times and called when he returned.
Night cam comes on.21.06 Emrys called some more then lay down. Hopefully he’ll get the first fish tomorrow.
LJ2 has brought 2 fish to the nest today and none from 372 which isn’t like her.
I’ve not seen much of her today. She was last on the nest mid morning. 11. 01 She brought a clump of moss and did a lot of shifting materials around then Bethan joined her.
Last time on camera was when the PTZ cam caught her on a post near the nest just after 3pm.
22.33 Emrys has changed position to standing with his head tucked in. He’ll need to get used to sleeping this way when he leaves his nest bed to migrate.
.
28 August
Alyth Starlings posted in wrong thread. I won't delete the post itself, in case it takes all the "daughter posts" with it. Apologies.
IMAGICAT
scylla said:I was going to say that only corvids and passerines seen all day, then I realised that corvids are passerines too - here was a sweet line-up of Starlings:
That’s impressive Scylla but oops wrong thread! Can you transfer it to the Alyth thread please.
29 August
Good morning. Today Bethan is 88 days old and Emrys 86.
Emrys left the nest this morning at 05.23.
06.01 There was a lot of noise before someone left the nest perch. (the blob arrowed) It sounded like Bethan.
There’s a bird on the tree. Emrys?
She arrived on the nest.
06.11 Only stayed a couple of minutes then both birds came to the nest.
06.16 06.18 Meantime, someone came to the tower perch. Blue ring, right leg. It must be 372 as the juvies are both on the nest.
06.19 She left just under a minute later.
06.25 The youngsters stayed on the nest a wee bit longer asking for breakfast.
08.25 The PTZ cam found an Osprey on a tall post.
08.28 It switched back to the tower perch and Emrys was there.
08.42 Emrys on the nest for a bit. “I’m hungry!”
08.56
09.12 and he’s off.
He goes down to the nest perch.
Glad to see the weather has calmed down and looks like it’ll be a nice day. Good for fishing I hope.
12.48 Fish delivery overhead for Bethan.
It’s LJ2 with the fish.
12.50
13.15 Bethan eats for a spell then takes the fish away.