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.
11.37 As the day went on, things improved. Each fish got larger. So everyone has eaten well
13.55
16.55
20.04 372 has been dozing in and off.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
21.08 Fish number 6, another good size.
21.10 372 had flown off so LJ2 started feeding the chicks.
21.13
21.16 372 is back and chipping.
#2 chick picked up a piece of fish but unfortunately it was still attached so couldn’t eat it.
mantling now and looking upwards
21.19 Nothing came of it and 372 picked up a small piece of fish off the nest to eat.
LJ2 continued eating the fish.
21.25 She then took the fish from LJ2.
21.26 372 then released the fish and #2 started pulling at it.
21.28 372 took the fish again and fed the chicks
21.29
21.32 #2 got the most of the feed.
21.35 #2 withdraws
372 walked away from the fish.
21.36 the chicks seek shelter from mum.
22.29 currently all hunkered down, the rain seems to have stopped but the wind is still around.
5 July
Good morning. A nice early feed for the chicks from last night’s fish.
04.45
05.02 LJ2 arrived to get some as well
05.10
05.18 372 took the fish back to feed to the chicks again
05.20
05.25 Feed finished, time for a rest and preen,
05.33 room for a few pieces more.
06.40 Back to the small piece of fish that’s left
06.40 372 shares
06.45 and munches the last piece herself.
10.01 372 with her sleeping chicks.
12.29 Big wing and leg stretch from one of the chicks.
Then 372 shows how it’s done standing up
Not to be left out, the other chick stretches out too.
LJ2 has visited the tower perch this morning, mostly for preening.
11.17 Time to depart after a lengthy spell.
12.01 back again
12.34 372 has dropped by too.
13.22 and again
13.34 the PTZ cam has been touring the area.
Afternoon fish delivery
15.39 372 moved the fish so we could see the feed!15.45 After getting the first part of the feed, #1 came to the edge and started shouting. I’ll be very surprised if this isn’t a female! 15.54 The feed continues
15.55 #1 took the fish from 372
15.57 but couldn’t do anything with it so 372 took it back.
#2 then took the fish but couldn’t eat it either.
15.59 372 retrieved it and shared it with #2.
16.02 before swallowing the tail fin.
17.10 Another fish delivery
17.14 Looks like #1 got the first (and biggest) part of the feed.
17.22 #2’s turn now
17.24 The fish is finished as 372 looks down for scraps.
17.40 372 flew onto the nest as she saw LJ2 incoming with another fish, half an hour after his previous delivery.
17.41 #1 was in the right position next to where mum took the fish and got fed straight away.
17.48 Not that it needs it when you see the size of its crop!
17.54 #2 lay waiting for its turn. #1 stood up to turn away and 372 started eating some.
17.55 #2 moved and started asking but #1 was still next to 372 so she started feeding it again.
#2 has such a quiet voice compared to #1 and couldn’t get 372’s attention.
In my opinion I’d say #2 was a boy.
#2 watching and asking as 372 picks up the tail fin
then watches her swallow it down. So no feed for #2 this time and not much last time either.
Hopefully LJ2 brings in a much larger fish the next time.
20.24 Still waiting on the next fish.