Well it’s been the most dramatic start to the season that I’ve seen. Blue 372 arrived early, LJ2 was late and Blue 416, a male known to 372 as a 2 year old (who intruded at Brenig with 372 in 2023) paired up with 372 until LJ2 arrived and fought to get his nest back.
372 and 416 were well set up together, 2 eggs were laid then on 18th of April, 8 days after returning, LJ2 made an almighty effort to oust 416, reclaim his nest and 372.
416 was last seen being chased off by LJ2 on the morning of 19th April. 372 laid a 3rd egg on 21st April. LJ2 wasn’t accepting of any of the eggs and they were broken or kicked out. One lay whole on the nest edge.
21st April saw LJ2’s first successful mating with 372 and their partnership has continued to grow.
26th April 372 laid her 4th egg but LJ2’s first. 3 days later in the late evening, 372 rolled 416’s egg from the nest edge into the cup. In the morning, LJ2 accepted it and they are doing a great job sharing incubation. The rolled egg is still considered non viable due to the length of time it was left unattended.
30th April 372 laid her 5th egg, LJ2’s second. SEASON 2025 UPDATES
RETURN DATES - Blue 372 March 24th - Blue 416 (Lake District 2020) March 30th - Blue LJ2 April 10th.
EGGS (372 and 416) #1. 15/04/23 23.13 -
(372 and 416) #2. 18/04/25 23.16 - ALL 3 EGGS DESTROYED OR NON VIABLE
(372 and 416) #3. 21/04/25 22.17 -
(372 and LJ2) #1. 26/04/25 22.29 - 29/04/25 372 rolled the egg on the nest edge back into the cup
(372 and LJ2) #2. 30/04/25 21.20 -
LINK to March/April 2025
LINK to First page opener
372 and LJ2 April 2025©️NWWT, WW, BOP
OTHER NEWS
17/04/25 Olwen X6(22) - parents LJ2/LM6 - first sighting as a returner intruded Dyfi (now thought to be a male)
22/04/25 Gelert KA9(22) - parents LJ2/LM6 - intruded Glaslyn (nest sibling to Olwen) (male)
07/05/25 Dilys 7B5(23) - parents LJ2/LM6 - first sighting as a returner intruded Glaslyn (female)
May 1
Good morning. News from last night on Brenig FB - 372 laid a second egg to LJ2!
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21.20 Our view shows the effort that is needed!©️NWWT, WW, BOP
04.29 LJ2 flew into mate and slid right off 372’s back.
04.30 His first look at the eggs, now 3 in there!06.03 They look quite relaxed.
07.34 372 had a good preen on the tower perch.
08.47 Both feeling the heat already.
09.13
©️NWWT, WW, BOP
Latest from Brenig FB
09.57 372 was sitting happily resting in the sun.
10.00 Then LJ2 arrived, wanting a turn. A stick on the back was his first trick.
Then one dropped on her head
10.01 He was very invasive of her space pottering around with a stick.
He got his way though.
10.02 Happy boy!
13.01 372 places a stick she’s brought for the nest frame.
Of the matings I’ve seen today, they’ve all been unsuccessful with 372 unwilling to participate.
15.07
16.18 She shrugs LJ2 off again.
18.02 Finally a fish delivery!18.04 372 takes the headless fish.
Off she goes for a feed. LJ2 on incubation duty.
18.47 Around 40 minutes later 372 returned with the fish. LJ2 didn’t take it.
18.48 She discarded it nest to the cup.
18.51
18.59 LJ2 returns for the fish. He doesn’t like leaving a fish on the nest!
19.00 One of the eggs looks quite speckly.
20.24 372 remained on the nest as LJ2 didn’t return to swap over.
20.52 She raised her wings and flapped a couple of times.
Then she took off. LJ2 was sitting on the nest perch with the fish.
08.53 372 had a crazy couple of minutes flying at speed around the area a few times.
08.54 Up towards the nest then swooping down again
around the back of the nest pole then up to the tower perch.
08.55 She didn’t stay long.
Back towards the nest
over LJ2’s head
and onto the nest. She must’ve needed that exercise before doing her night shift.
LJ2 then took off
21.02 and arrived at the tower perch 7 minutes later.
21.21 He stayed for 19 minutes
then flew off to the nest perch for the night.
May 2
Good morning. I’m wondering if 372 has finished laying (her thinking she has 3 eggs) as she’s still refusing mating.
04.56 Also, LJ2 didn’t have last night’s fish with him. Don’t know what happened to it.
LJ2 takes over incubation.
05.56 Swapping over.
07.33 LJ2 waiting on his turn again!
7.40 372 dozing on and off.
09.02 The cam zoomed in for a close up of LJ2.
11.30 LJ2 arrived with a piece of bark. 372 asked for a nice fish.
Looks like it was quite a relaxed day for the pair. 12.06 One of LJ2’s hangouts.12.32 LJ2 again.
13.01 LJ2 on the nest perch.
14.50 LJ2 back to the post.
14.52 The crow on the nest nearby.
14.53 LJ2 on the post and the crow’s nest is just below the arrow. The crows must benefit from many dropped fish!
15.15 Red markings showing on one of the eggs.
15.38 LJ2 again, preening.
17.11 LJ2 stands on 372’s back to let her know it’s his turn again to incubate!
19.14 As far as I could see, this was the only fish today. LJ2 had had some first.
372 takes it off the nest.
19.25 She returns just over 10 minutes later without it.
372 incubates until LJ2 arrives at 21.17. She gets up
then decides to settle back down. LJ2 then leaves. 21.18
22.48 LJ2 on the nest perch again for the night.
May 3
Good morning. The nest has gone like a fair this morning, From when 372 left at 04.30 and LJ2 flew on to take over incubation, there must’ve been about a hundred changeovers since! Haha
05.47 372 enjoyed a lengthy period on the tower perch before she returned to the nest.
07.45 Fresh nesting has been added. 372 with some moss.
07.47 TWO minutes later, LJ2 returns with a stick or bark.
08.35 LJ2 with a piece of bark.
08.47 He’s back 10 minutes later with some moss.
09.39
LJ2 hasn’t been back since then. Maybe he’s gone fishing.
10.48 372 currently
11.09 LJ2 glides in fishless. He takes over incubation.
They’ve had many swapovers on the nest again and both have used the tower perch.
12.18 LJ2
14.14 372
16.34 372 currently on the nest.