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.
10.43 372 returned soon after with a long stick.
10.53 After moving the stick around the nest, 372 left 10 minutes after arriving.
10.58 372 and LJ2 together on the tower perch.
11.32 372 on the tower perch.
11.59 An intruder comes into the area. 372 starts mantling.
The intruder is seen high in the sky, to the right of the time clock.
12.00
12.01 372 flies down to the nest to defend. Sky dancing can be heard.
12.02 An Osprey can be seen in the sky to the right.
372 flies off towards it.
12.08 372 came back again, shouting and flapping.
12.19 The PTZ cam switched to the tree where Emrys was. He was looking quite relaxed.
He stayed there throughout the drama!
13.54 The PTZ cam went back to the tower perch and 372 was there.
14.09 Here we go again, an intruder is around. Don’t know if it’s the same one.
14.10 372 back defending the nest again.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
14.50 LJ2 arrived with a small perch?As 372 took the fish, Bethan arrived.
Bethan tried to take the fish from 372.372 held tight
14.52 and kept the fish. Emrys then arrived.
14.53 372 started feeding him.
14.54 Bethan watched Emrys being fed
then decided to try to take the fish again.
14.55 372 released it to her this time.
14.56 Emrys watched Bethan but didn’t try to take the fish.
15.10 372 watching Bethan
15.13 Emrys left to go back to his tree.
15.19 372 shouted for another fish.
372 then took the fish off Bethan
She offered some to Bethan but the youngster didn’t take any.
So 372 finished it off.
17.08 LJ2 brings another small fish.
372 takes it.
17.09 Bethan arrives.
Emrys arrives, misjudges his landing and lands on top of Bethan. She is squawking loudly!
It’s suddenly quiet as Bethan doesn’t have Emrys on her back any more!
372 starts feeding Emrys.
17.23 Bethan gets fed too.
17.39
She gets the tail to munch down.
19.55 At last, LJ2 brings a decent sized fish. 372 was there to receive it.
19.57 Bethan arrived first and 372 started to feed her.
20.01 Emrys arrived
20.11 he held back until there was a space next to 372.
20.38 Bethan and Emrys both fed well. LJ2 arrived with a long stick
and landed in the middle of everyone.
20.42 372 feeding herself now.
20.44 She walks away from the fish.
20.47 372 does a bit of nest tidying, moving the stick LJ2 brought in. 20.50 372 and Bethan had both left when LJ2 arrived and took what was left of the fish.
Amazing colours in the sky tonight.