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.
21.04 372 and LJ2 landed on the tower perch within a second of each other.
21.05
21.13 However, LJ2 didn’t plan on spending the night there and soon flew off leaving 372.21.2921.17 Meanwhile, someone had decided to spend the night on the nest.
21.32 I’m going to assume it’s Emrys as he’s the only one who’s done it so far.
23.39 Fast asleep.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
18 August
Good morning. Today Bethan is 77 days old and Emrys 75.
Emrys left the nest at 05.03 to the sweet sounds of Bethan in the background.
05.33 372 stayed on the tower perch and had a preen before setting off.
06.29 Just about to leave.
She flew in a downward direction as if she was going to dive.
but just flew low over the water.08.25 372 brought a short stick to the nest and placed it.
Bethan followed her on asking for fish.
08.30 372 quickly left, Bethan pottered about and lay down.
08.45 Bethan just before she leaves.
08.54 Emrys followed LJ2 onto the nest looking for fish but just got clobbered with a stick instead.
08.55 LJ2 didn’t have time to place the stick as he went straight into defending mode.
Emrys lay low.
LJ2 chipping and mantling.LJ2 left and Emrys stayed down for a few minutes before getting up.
08.59 He left a couple of minutes after.
10.07 372 came to the tower perch.
She looked upwards
a quick preen
something’s definitely caught her eye
she changes position
and starts mantling.
10.10 The juvies were on the nest being noisy. They went quiet and looked upwards too.
372 was now vocalising as well.
She then left.
12.59 The juvies were on the nest shouting on and off for fish.
13.07
13.12 372 came with a headless fish.
They both dived in to take the fish.
However, Emrys had grabbed 372’s toe and Bethan got the fish.
372 left after she was released!
13.15 Emrys waited as Bethany ate.
13.40 Emrys had been vocalising he wanted fish. He went quiet as they both spotted something.
13.40 They shot off the nest at speed, Bethan took the fish with her.
15.03 Emrys was on the nest with 372 waiting on LJ2 arriving with a fish.
372 took the fish, Emrys shouted at LJ2
15.04 Emrys then took the fish from 372. She flew off
15.26 then returned a short while later.
16.45 She waited patiently.
16.49 However, Emrys flew off with what was left of the fish.
16.50 372 had to make do with scraps off the nest.
16.51
18.03 Bethan returned briefly with her fish.
18.05 She left 2 minutes later.
19.36 LJ2 arrived to an empty nest with a headless fish.
Emrys landed, his eyes on the fish.
He took the fish from LJ2
13.37 LJ2 left
20.09 and Emrys is currently still eating.
20.42 Glad to see 372 finally has a fish to herself.
She had already started on it but didn’t eat anymore.21.17 Looks like she’s roosting here tonight again.
20.55 Meanwhile LJ2 paid a visit to the nest for 5 minutes.
20.57 He did some tidying.
21.00 He was off.
No Emrys sleeping at the nest tonight.
©️NWWT, WW. BOP
19 August
Good morning. LJ2 joined 372 on the tower perch in the early hours. The cam went down after 02.00 and when it came back on at 04.28, LJ2 was there.
05.45
05.51 After LJ2 left, 372 continued eating her fish.
05.56 Bethan had landed on the nest and was fish calling.
05.59 362 flew down with her fish.05.59 Bethan quickly took it.
06.01 She decided to eat it elsewhere.
09.13 Bethan was back on the nest looking for more fish.
10.5110.53 LJ2 answered her calls with a large headless fish.
10.54 Bethan has the fish.
10.56 She decided to take this fish off nest as well to eat.
©️NWWT ,WW, BOP
13.09 Bethan arrived at the nest. I wonder if she’s eaten the whole fish or dropped part?
13.33 The juvies were on and off the nest all afternoon, individually and together.
15.43
16.23
16.36 Emrys was alone on the nest when 372 arrived. She had a large headless fish.
Emrys whipped the fish from 372
16.37
16.39 372 left and Bethan arrived.
16.41 Bethan stood next to Emrys and shouted for fish.
16.44 Emrys decided to take the fish off nest to eat.
Bethan watched. It looks like the 2 adult birds are on the tree and Emrys went down to the right.