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.
Hello Glider, I am the project officer for Brenig Osprey Project and have only just found your page. The amount of detail on here is fanstic, I now know where to come if I miss anything thats happened on the nest . Are you a volunteer for us, online as part of osprey watch? Email me if you like sarah.callon@northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk Kind regards, Sarah
Thanks Sarah, I'll drop you an email tomorrow.
Just a quick catch-up tonight as I’ve been out all day.
There was an earlier fish delivery this morning as there was half a fish lying when doing scrollback as far as I could go.
10.02 Looks like it was a good sized fish.
11.56 Hunkering down in our summertime weather!
12.41 Two bedraggled chicks. From left 8B9, 8B8.
13.35 372 retrieves the fish.
13.37 Both chicks present themselves for a feed. 8B8 to the right.
13.43
14.45 8B9 repositioning a thin stick like a pro!
14.46 Stick in place, next it’s wing flapping practice.
17.40 LJ2 arrives with tea.
18.18 Later LJ2 returns but the feed is still ongoing.
19.07 Another delivery from LJ2
19.08
21.07 The very large chicks just about keep their heads dry under 372.
22.54 Current scene.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
12 July
Good morning, looks like it was wet overnight.
05.10
06.28 A dry looking LJ2 arrives, 372 asks for fish.
07.40 8B8 (left) and 8B9
08.05 372 brings an awkward stick
She tries to place it but it’s caught in between her legs. She manages to leave it at the side of the nest.
08.07 Then it catches her tail
08.08 A few more adjustments and it’s done.
08.29 372 and one of the chicks preening, LJ2 sitting on the tree along from the nest.
09.17 LJ2 brought in a stick.09.18 372 let him know it wasn’t edible
10.07 8B8 doing some flapping
11.25 LJ2 brings in the first fish of the day.
8B8 being fed
11.32 8B9 being fed too.
13.39 One of the chicks was getting a top up feed.
13.43 372 suddenly sounded the alarm call, getting her chicks to pancake.
372 looked around. LJ2 was on the tree nearby. She alarmed called again, still being vigilant.
13.44 372 started pecking at the fish again. Emergency over.©️NWWT, WW, BOP
14.04 372 continued the feed with the chick until it stood up and withdrew.
LJ2 brought in a piece of bark.
The chicks and 372 double checked to see if it was a fish. LJ2 eyed the fish 372 was still holding.
14.05 He walked around the side of the nest, carefully past the awkward stick that 372 brought earlier.
LJ2 took the fish from 372
and flew off with it watched by 8B9 who had just had the top up.
14.48 LJ2 ate then returned with the fish.
14.49 Both chicks came forward
8B9 ate first14.55 then 8B8 got his turn.
15.01 372 started swallowing the end of the fish
But 8B8 asked for it. Like the good mum that she is, she gave it to her son.
14.51 LJ2 looking handsome on the tower perch.
16.55 372 resting with the chicks
18.37 Still relaxing
Brenig are looking for names for our chicks as posted on FB
Emrys and Bethan look like the most popular so far.
They're the names that I chose Glider
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr