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.
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I bet GLIDER has "better" snaps - taken on sunnier days - in these pages, but this was irresistible:
IMAGICAT
3 September
Good morning. Today Bethan is 93 days old and Emrys 91.
Aw thanks for the portrait Scylla, I love it. I’m sure I don’t have any better - can’t remember many sunny days here!
The two have both been on the nest together this morning.
06.12 First arrival within seconds of each other.
07.49 They left and returned later.
08.31 They were still for a while, looking down into the water. Almost identical to yesterday’s snap above - Emrys to the left.
08.57 Fish on its way.
It’s 372
Both youngsters went for it.
They each had a hold of the top of the fish in their beaks.
They pulled
and pulled
then Emrys let go and Bethan took the fish.
08.59
09.04
09.40 Emrys pacing and shouting and Bethan still eating.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
Emrys had to wait his time until Bethan was finished eating.09.48 She left the nest without the fish.Emrys collected the fish.
09.49 He brought it to this side
10.10 and that side and back again.
10.11 He stopped for a bit, watching something.
10.21 He then took the fish to the other side of the nest and flew off with it, landing on a post under the tree.
10.23 LJ2 came to the nest not long after Emrys had left.
I think he was looking for scraps then he ended up moving sticks.
10.26 He stayed for a couple of minutes then joined 372 on the tower perch.
11.11 Two crows had a rake about the nest for a few minutes.
The PTZ cam had a look around the area.
11.37 372 was on the tower perch.
An Osprey was on a tall post to the left of the nest.
The nest was empty
11.41 There’s an osprey on the post to the right and a crow on a lower branch of the tree.
11.59 372 looking relaxed.
14.21 The next visitor to the nest was another crow.
14.32 followed by Bethan. The crow left before she arrived.
14.36 She mantled and looked upwards.
14.39
14.52 I didn’t see anything. A short while later Bethan was calling for fish.
15.04 Bethan has been on and off the nest.
16.01
16.13 Emrys joined her.
17.09 Still there.
372 was on the tower perch for a couple of hours whilst Bethan was on the nest.
15.01 Looking good in the sun.
15.32
16.24 372 leaving
17.37 LJ2 arrives with a headless trout.
Bethan is in prime position next to the top of the fish.
17.38 She claims the fish.
18.01 Emrys is having to wait again, like this morning.©️NWWT, WW, BOP
18.56 Bethan lifted her wings as she was finished eating.
Emrys walked up to take the fish.
18.57 He brought it over to the camera side of the nest. Bethan left.
18.58 Emrys tucking in.
19.07 Bethan returns.
19.33 Bethan keeping an eye on the water below.
20.00 372 joined Emrys20.01 He seemed to have had enough to eat and was stepping off the fish when 372 lets out an alarm call then she chipped.
20.02 372 flew off the nest. Chipping could then be heard.
Emrys didn’t seem too concerned. He cleaned his beak. Bethan could be heard from the nest perch and her wing tips seen as she was flapping. Emrys was making a noise too. The chipping stopped
20.06 Emrys left, flying down low over the water.
20.07 372 arrived to take the fish tail end.
Emrys then reappeared
20.08 and Bethan
372 struggled to get a good grip of the fish tail before she was able to start eating.
20.19 She managed to finish it with ringing in her ears.
20.20 372 left then Bethan and Emrys left within the next 5 minutes.
The 2 adults were together on the tower perch for a short while. LJ2 left at 20.38 and 372, 2 minutes later.
4 September
Good morning. Today Bethan is 94 days old and Emrys 92.
All 4 birds have been around this morning.
05.55 The 2 adults on the tower perch.
06.46 Hello Emrys
06.52 Bethan joins him.
08.19 372 is currently on the tower perch, the nest is empty and quiet.
The nest has been very empty for most of the day.
The last time I saw Emrys was when he was on the nest this morning. He arrived at 06.25 and stayed for an hour.
06.53 The Golden Boy
07.0507.20
07.24 He was chattering to Bethan in the background.
He moved to the other side of the nest and flew off
downwards and to the right.