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.
22.16 372 left the nest
and flew to the tower perch.
She turned around so she’d be facing the nest.
I guess she’ll be roosting here tonight again.
©️NWWT. WW, BOP
19 July
Good morning. Well I guessed wrong last night - 372 returned to the nest later for two and a half hours.
23.38
02.13 and then she left.
04.48 Her first visit to the nest in the morning.
06.19 Bethan 8B9, started fish calling and 372 joined in.
06.20 LJ2 brought in a fish he’d started on.
372 took it
snd started feeding Bethan
06.23
06.35 When Bethan was finished, Emrys 8B8, got his turn.
06.50 and it looks like he’s had enough and the feed is finished.
06.52 372 picked up some tiny scraps, cleaned her beak then flew to the nearby tree.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
07.17 372 arrives with a large awkward stick
07.18 LJ2 arrives
Family portrait
That stick is troublesome, 372 trying to get past it.
07.50 Emrys found the leftover fish and picked it up.
372 goes around the stick again, it brushes her back.
She lifts her wings and the stick is knocked off the nest.
07.52 Emrys 8B8 left the fish and Bethan 8B9 tried to eat it but it got left again.
08.16 A short while later LJ2 came to collect the fish. It looks like Emrys 8B8 is sitting on it.
When Emrys shuffled and moved over a bit
08.17 LJ2 moved in and pulled the fish up.
Then he was off for a feed.
09.36 Emrys managed a couple of little jumps with his flying practice this morning.
Watched by sister Bethan.
09.38 Soon after, dad came back with the half fish.
Bethan turned around asking to be fed, Emrys looked like he was thinking of snatching it but mum arrived first.
09.39 372 took the fish off LJ2.
09.41
All 3 got a share and the fish was finished off at 10.22
372 and LJ2 spent some time on the tower perch together.
372 landed first around 10.52
LJ2 joined her a few moments after.
They stayed together until 372 left at 11.39.
12.20 LJ2 stayed on, just chillin’ in the sun.
12.28 372 chillin’ on the nest with Bethan and Emrys.
372 joined again him later. 13.19
©️NWWT WW, BOP
There was an intruder around later in the afternoon.
After his very long stay on the tower perch, LJ2 left to presumably go fishing.
15.01
372 was on the nest. She became very watchful, following something in the area.
15.11 372 gave the chicks the alarm call to pancake and flew off.
She came to the tower perch.
She was watchful to begin with then started relaxing, preening.
The Osprey returned to the area. 372 started flapping.
15.35
As the bird got closer, 372 became very vocal. She could be heard on the nest cam microphone.
The bird flew past 372.15.40 372 came to the nest flapping and shouting and watched it in the sky.
15.42 She quietened down for a couple of minutes then started again as the bird returned.
15.48 372 remained on the nest, alert but quiet for a few minutes. Then she started chipping
15.49 And flew off.
The intruder was around for over 2 hours.
15.55
16.12 372 was on and off the nest a few times.
16.16 One of the chicks was up for a quick wee break!
16.47
16.57
18.04 She must be tired by now, all that exertion.
18.27 When 372 left this time, she’d been quiet for over 10 minutes so hopefully the intruder has moved on.
She next returned to the nest at 18.58 and not mantling. Yay!!
19.00 Then who should arrive with a fish! Missed all the fun LJ2.
The chicks were keen to get fed.
21.25 They were in for a treat tonight as a second fish arrived before dark.
372 didn’t come over for it so LJ2 ended up releasing the fish on the nest.
21.27 Bethan was closest so she had a few nibbles.
21.32 After Bethan left the fish, 372 collected it. 21.33 She ate some herself before any of the chicks came forward.
21.42 Still feeding
21.51 Looks like the feed has now stopped.
22.43 Current scene on night cam.
20 July
A very quick catch up.
Brenig posted on FB yesterday that there were actually 2 intruders to the nest yesterday afternoon. Both 372 and LJ2 were seen defending in the sky.
No wonder the intruder episode was so long!
Foulshaw posted on X that one of the birds was theirs.
©️CWT/Foulshaw