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.
Bethan and Emrys had been waiting on the nest.
14.15 372 flew in with a headless fish.
The 2 youngsters both grabbed the fish
14.16 They pulled and pulled and it was Bethan who got it.
14.19
14.41 Emrys waited and watched as Bethan ate.
14.51 He took his chance and grabbed the fish
14.52 and took it to the other side of the nest to eat.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
15.14 Bethan left and returned quickly when LJ2 arrived with a small fish.
She took the fish.
Two happy youngsters.
16.43 Once these fish were finished, the two were back at the nest again.
Bethan left at 17.02. Emrys stayed but Bethan returned a few seconds before LJ2 arrived with a fish.17.34
Both went for it.
Bethan won again.
LJ2 flew to the tower perch
.17.49 Emrys stayed on the nest as she ate.
17.50 Bethan decided to continue eating elsewhere.
NWWT, WW, BOP
18.07 Emrys left then returned and had a lie down.
18.51 Later he decided to get up and found a dried up piece of skin.
He tackled it again but couldn’t eat it. 18.53 He left the nest and the skin was caught in his talons. It fell off.
18.57 He returned to the nest, then had a lie down again.
19.29 The next time he got up was to greet 372 who was bringing in a meaty fish.
She is so good at fishing for big ones!
Emrys quickly took the fish.
19.30
20.13 Emrys stayed on the nest to eat.
20.36 372 dropped by
20.43 but Emrys wasn’t ready to stop eating so she left again.
20.59 He brought the fish to the centre of the nest for a last few bites.
21.01 Then he left, leaving the fish behind.
21.12 372 must be hungry tonight. She came for the fish.
21.18 She ate some of it on the nest.
21.22 Then left with it.
24 August
Good morning. Today Bethan is 83 days old and Emrys 81.
05.44 Bethan was first to the nest this morning. Night cam was still on. It shows how the days are shortening.
Emrys followed on 4 minutes later. 372 then brought last night’s fish to the nest.
05.54 It was in her right talons. She landed in between the juvies so it was the chick to the right who got it, Bethan.
05.57
06.15 Emrys waited as Bethan fed.
06.38 With a small piece clutched in her talons, Bethan left.
06.39 Emrys shouted for his breakfast.
06.40 372 is keeping an eye on things from the tower perch.
Emrys stayed close to the nest, on and off asking for fish.
LJ2 had caught one and was having his share before he brought it to Emrys.
08.50 The fish arrived, there’s a lot of eating there for Emrys.
09.13 Bethan arrives and waits behind Emrys.
09.40 Emrys decides to take his fish elsewhere. He lands somewhere under the tree they like to sit on.
09.41 Bethan requests more fish.
372 had been on the tower perch since 08.43 doing some preening.
09.27 She had a yoga stretch then left.
09.48 A short while later, the PTZ cam moved to where 372 was. She had continued preening.
09.49 Then we saw LJ2 on a perch, looking very still and long!
A zoom out and you can just make out the 2 of them quite close together, 372 high and LJ2 low.
09.51 A closer zoom to see better. They’re not far from the nest at all.
09.53 You can see why Bethan it’s shouting in this direction.
10.33 She has quietened down for now as she begins some preening.
Her parents are still nearby. LJ2 is preening as well now. 372 is watching the 2 people in a boat.
11.37 Bethan could be heard probably a mile away as she raced to the nest knowing a fish was on its way.
It was just a small offering from 372 but every little counts!
11.39 Bethan started eating the fish
then chose to take it away.
14.40 An afternoon meal was next for Bethan, brought in by her dad this time.
14.43 A much better size this time for Bethan to munch on.
14.51
14.53 She decides to eat the rest off nest.