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.
17 July
Good morning. It was a calm, dry night. 372 stayed on the nest until 03.02. A yoga stretch and she was off.
04.13 8B8 and 8B9 were up early, stretching, flapping and preening.
04.21 372 returned to the nest.
04.36 When day cam came on, everyone was cuddled in.
05.16 372 yawns then leaves the nest a few seconds after.
05.34 She returns with nesting materials.
05.47 Beautiful violet hues in the sky this morning.
05.56 372 has been looking around the area.
She makes a call, sort of like an alarm call but quieter, then leaves.
05.57 372 lands on the tower perch.
07.01 She stays there for a while, resting and preening.
07.30 A few more feathers to fix then she’s off.
08.00 8B8 tracks 372 as she makes her way to the nest.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
11.22 372 landed on the nest. She accidentally stood on 8B9’s wing.
She got a peck from her daughter.
11.23 The first fish of the day arrived a minute later, a fine mullet I think.
11.24
11.25 8B9 got the first feed.(Furthest from camera)
11.29 372 was a little distracted during the feed.
11.32 8B8 came back to the fish and pecked at the body. (Unsuccessfully!)
11.41 Once 8B9 walked away, 8B8 started being fed.
11.44
372 then gave her chicks the warning call to pancake.
11.46 She looked around but nothing came of it, so she started eating the fish again.
11.57 She had offered 8B8 but he didn’t take any until a little later.
12.12 Both chicks satisfied, 372 ate some more.
8B9 then 8B8 came back for seconds and after the feed was finished, LJ2 collected it for his share.
12.33
13.17 You can see the difference in the adult and juvenile’s eye colour.
13.19 372 resting her eyes
13.49 Later, 372 brings some nesting materials in.Seconds after, LJ2 arrives with the remainder of the fish.
13.50 372 took the fish then let go. 8B8 was in like a shot and claimed the fish.
13.51 His first self feed! He is 43 days old.He was actually managing to bite pieces off to eat.13.53
13.56 8B9 watching her little brother closely.
13.58 8B8 has finished and walks away from the fish.
13.59 8B9 comes over for her turn.
14.04 She manages to feed herself too, 45 days old. 14.05 372 leaves for a quick break.
14.07 372 returns
14.08 8B9 walks away from the fish.
14.11 LJ2 returns for the fish.
14.14 the two youngsters are now resting with mum.
14.53 LJ2 brings the fish back again.
14.54 372 takes it and does the feed this time.
15.30 More wingercising, getting quicker!
16.22 372 calling for the next fish.17.27 still calling
18.00 Where’s our fish?!18.33 LJ2 is on his way.
At last!
LJ2 struggles to release with one of his talons.
372 has a tight grip and pulls hard
18.34 She’s got it and the chicks present themselves for a feed.
Both 8B8 and 8B9 ate well.
19.44 8B9 then did some wingercising. She managed a little jump.
She continued beating her wings and did several more little jumps. 8B8 moved forward to give his sister space.
19.45 still going
and then she stops. She’s getting there.
20.38 372 arrives just in front of LJ2 who is bringing a fish.
20.39 As 372 goes to collect it, LJ2 releases and the live fish jumps over the nest.
It lands beside the chicks. 372 follows it over.
But too late, 8B8 has it firmly in his beak! It’s just a wee tiddler, perfect size for 8B8’s first live fish.
20.40 372 tries to take the fish from 8B8
but he’s not for letting go!
372 keeps trying and 8B8 keeps moving.
20.41
8B8 can be heard squealing in delight.
20.46 372 leaves and 8B9 watches her brother.
20.47 8B8 releases the fish and does some wingercising.
372 returns and picks up the fish before 8B9 takes it!
20.48 372 has a few mouthfuls herself then starts feeding 8B9
20.50 a few more pieces for 372
20.51 and 8B9
20.53 8B9 still being fed.
20.54 Looks like it’s finished now.
21.08 LJ2 arrives with another tiddler.
372 is straight over to make sure she gets it. It’s another tiddler.
21.09 I can’t see the feed properly.
21.14 This chick is getting fed, I don’t know if the other one got fed first or not.
21.20 372 finishes the fish off.
22.44 Current scene. Something flew quickly past the nest. A bird or a bat?©️NWWT, WW, BOP
Posted on Brenig FB earlier. Interesting because 8B8 had 2 opportunities of eating real fish later on!
We’ll find out the chicks’ names tomorrow!