Background to the nest:-
Many thanks to AG who wrote this preface to the Llyn Brenig thread. Extra information edited in.
Llyn Brenig is a reservoir on the border between Denbighshire and County Conwy in North Wales. It is managed by Welsh Water; the osprey project is a partnership between them and North Wales Wildlife Trust.
One pair of ospreys (Blue HR7 (M) 2014 Lake Menteith, Stirling and Blue 24 (F) 2010 nr Rutland) raised a single chick here each year from 2018-2020, Z9 (F) Luned, KA5 (M) Roli and KC5 (F) respectively. Sadly, KC5 died after fledging, colliding with a wind turbine.
Neither of this breeding pair returned in 2021, when the nest was taken over by 2 Scottish birds, LJ2 (male, South Argyle) and LM6 (female, Menteith, Stirling), both 2018 chicks. The nest was vandalised the night after LM6 had laid her first egg; while the two could not continue to breed they did stay close to the site until normal migration time.
A new nest was erected in 2022 with additional security and a streaming camera in place. A new hide was also built.
2022 LJ2 and LM6 returned and successfully fledged 2 chicks, X6 Olwen (F) and KA9 Gelert (M).
LM6 lost her blue darvic ring on the nest. It was later recovered by Welsh Water and kept for display.2023 saw LJ2 and LM6 return to breed and successfully raise 2 female chicks 7B5 (Dilys) and 7B6 (Mari).
2024 LM6 sadly didn’t return and a new female Blue 372 (Translocation Poole Harbour 2021) became LJ2’s partner. They successfully raised 2 chicks 8B9 Bethan (F) and 8B8 Emrys (M).
2024 also saw KA9, Gelert return as a 2 year old and KA5 Roli return again for his 4th year, as a 6 year old.
LINKS TO:-
August 2023 to February 2024
NWWT/BOP 2024 Season Roundup Video
North Wales Wildlife Trust Page https://www.northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk/days-out/ospreys-llyn-brenig
Welsh Water Page https://corporate.dwrcymru.com/en/community/explore-our-sites
Llyn Brenig - Osprey Project page https://llynbrenig.com/llyn-brenig-osprey/
Osprey Project Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/brenigospreyproject
Friends of Llyn Brenig Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/FriendsofLlynBrenigBlue24
Llyn Brenig YouTube Channel for Live Stream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOGHtmoEY7w
Llyn Brenig PTZ camera for off nest live stream PTZ live stream
ALL VIDEOS AND CAPTURES COPYRIGHT NORTH WALES WILDLIFE TRUST, WELSH WATER, BRENIG OSPREY PROJECT
2024 - (Blue) LJ2 and (Blue) 372
The birds stayed on the tower perch for a bit longer.
13.12 372 left first, immediately followed by LJ2. They have a lovely glide from the perch to the nest.
13.56 LJ2 finished the fish on the nest.
13.57 He flew off with the tail fin and trailing ribbon dangling.
15.18 LJ2’s scraping technique from behind!17.45 Mating
19.07 372 fish calling
19.09 Supper is delivered.
372 took it quickly
LJ2 had difficulty releasing and got pulled along with the fish.
No harm done.
19.10 372 leaves with the fish.
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
20.20 372 returned to the nest with her fish.
20.21 She stayed for a minute then left to go the the nest perch..
20.26 LJ2 visited the nest.
20.35 Then the tower perch.
20.26 He had a wee preen.
20.50 Then joined 372 on the nest perch. 372 always likes to sit at the outer end of the perch.
April 26
Good morning. Last night 372 chose to leave the nest perch and sleep on the nest. I thought there could be another egg on its way but that didn’t happen.
She arrived at 21.21 (didn’t have the fish with her) then LJ2 joined her for a mating. He returned to the perch and 372 remained. She did go into the cup one or two times but didn’t lie down.21.21 372 (bottom)
09.27 She shifted some materials around.02.30
03.49
04.39 the first morning mating.
07.28 They’ve frequently been mating since.
08.45 372 on the tower perch with LJ2 on the nest.
09.26 372 later joined LJ2 on the nest, mating failed this time.
Been a pretty quiet day. Both birds have been on the nest separately and together.
10.23 372
11.19 LJ2
12.21 still mating
LJ2 left the tower perch at 15.00
He flew past the nest and out over the open water to the left.
16.06 He arrived at the nest with a half eaten fish.
16.07
LJ2 left and returned again at 16.55. 16.57 When 372 approached, LJ2 flew off again.
17.07 He returned for a third time.
This time 372 went straight for the fish and took it in her beak.
17.08 She switched to her right talons and left.
17.11 LJ2 left the nest and flew to the tower perch.
He feaked his beak against the perch.17.12 He left again a minute later, gliding low down towards the water and out of screen shot.
He reappeared at the top of the screen dipping in the water as he flew low across.
After cleaning his talons, LJ2 returned to the perch.
He cleaned his beak again.
17.27 372 returned to the nest. Has she eaten the half fish in just under 20 minutes?
There has been more mating on the nest and 372 has been doing a lot of tidying of the cup.19.34 Golden hues of the setting sun cast over the nest.
19.40 372 making adjustments
20.43 It looked like the birds had retired to the nest perch for the night.
20.53 However, 372 decided to go back to the nest.
LJ2 followed her on to mate then left again.
21.28 Another mating attempt, unsuccessful this time. LJ2 flew off and return to the nest perch.
22.00 372 leaves the nest and returns to the perch.
10.00
April 27
Good morning. So the news is, 372 returned to the nest last night and laid an egg. However, in the morning, it looked like LJ2 destroyed it. BUT later in the morning, they are both taking turns at brooding? I don’t know what’s going on.
10.29 372’s tell tale jumping up with wings spread when the egg is laid.
10.31 She fussed around the cup before settling down on the egg.
10.40 settled down
04.13 fast asleep
04.49 LJ2 arrives to mate. 372 stands up and shrugs him off.
04.50 LJ2 goes to the side of the nest and coy mantles. 372 leaves.
LJ2 spots the egg.
04.52 He goes to the cup, shuffles around, picks out a piece of wood. At this point I thought he would settle on the egg
but he started scraping. 04.53 He scraped many times and had his head stuck deep into the cup prodding.
A trail of dust can be seen flying over the edge as LJ2 scrapes.
04.56 Was this the egg he was biting?
05.07 Still poking around the cup.
He’s stopped now and stays there until 372 arrives a few minutes later.
05.14 He quickly gets out of the cup and tries to mate with her, she’s not receptive.
372 ventures into the cup to have a look.
She settles down a couple of minutes later.
Brenig posted on FB last night that the egg was laid.
05.53 LJ2 visits the nest again.
05.54 372 gets up. I can’t see anything.
05.57 372 leaves and LJ2 ventures into the cup.
05.58 He settles down
06.26 372 returns
There’s no view into the cup.
06.28 372 lays down.
06.51 LJ2 is back wanting a turn again.
LJ2
I’m so confused. Watching LJ2 scrape the cup many times, in different directions and doing lots of prodding and shuffling, how could the egg survive? Yet here they are, taking turns at sitting so something must be there?!!! ©️NWWT, WW, BOP
I am confused to. He seems comfortable sitting there yet he keep doing little scraps. He definitely wouldnt sit there for long periods if not accepting of egg. Also no other male has been on the scene in a while so he has no reason to think it's not his egg. Time will tell I guess
Well it is a deep nest cup and ospreys do 'roll' the egg from time to time. I'd have to see him scrape to understand . But all seems well so that's important