Ospreys at Llyn Brenig

The osprey, a majestic and magnificent bird driven to extinction in Wales but now is making a comeback due to the efforts of conservation projects like the Brenig Osprey Project, writes Sarah Callon, North Wales Wildlife Trust’s BOP Project Officer.

The Brenig Osprey Project was started in 2013, a partnership project between North Wales Wildlife Trust and Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, at the water company’s visitor attraction Llyn Brenig.  Five nests were erected as ospreys had been previously spotted in the area.  In 2015 one of the nests was chosen by CU2 “Jimmy”.    

In 2017 a pair, female Blue 24 and male HR7, visited the Brenig nest.  (Blue 24 hatched at Rutland Water in 2010, granddaughter to White 03(97) a male osprey who was translocated to Rutland Water in 1997).  To everyone’s delight in 2018 the first chick at Llyn Brenig was hatched; Blue Z9 Luned.  Blue 24 and HR7 hatched one chick, KA5 Roli, in 2019 and another, Blue KC5 Dwynwen, in 2020.  Sadly Blue 24 and HR7 did not return from migration in the spring of 2021.

2021 saw two new ospreys take over the Brenig nest; female Blue LM6 hatched Menteith, Stirling in 2018 and male Blue LJ2 hatched in South Argyll in 2018.  Everything was going to plan for this new breeding pair and on the 30^th April 2021 LM6 laid her first egg.

That evening, however, in devastating and dramatic circumstances, the nest pole was illegally felled with a chainsaw.  A terrible wildlife crime had been committed and the newly laid egg was lost.

A temporary replacement nest was put up in the hope that the pair would lay more eggs but they did not.   A tremendous public reaction of support and donations meant that 24-hour security could be put in place to prevent this happening again.  LM6 and LJ2 did however stay around the area and set off for migration.  During that winter BT Openreach donated and installed a new nest pole, LM6 and LJ2 returned to the new Llyn Brenig nest in the spring of 2022, much to the project’s relief.

The 2022 season was a most successful season, especially after the devastation of the previous year.  Two chicks were successfully raised by LM6 and LJ2 to migration; Blue X6 Olwen and Blue KA9 Gelert.  We hope to see them return to the area in 2024 as two-year olds. 

2023 was also successful season as again two chicks were raised to migration; Blue 7B5 Dilys, hatched 27^th May and last seen at Llyn Brenig 30^th August.  Also, Blue 7B6 Mari, hatched 29^th May and last seen at Llyn Brenig 26^th August.

2024 osprey season was an interesting season, we saw a new female take residence at the Llyn Brenig nest.  Ringed Blue 372, a 2021 female born in Scotland and translocated to Poole Harbour.  Unfortunately LM6 did not return from migration and so 372 took her place as resident female.  Stating her claim in an epic battle on the 9th of May when she had 3 eggs in the nest.  Two of those eggs hatched and the chicks sucessfully migrated.  Female 8B9 Bethan and male 8B8 Emrys. 

We are excited to see what 2025 will bring!

2025 Osprey Timeline

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2024 Osprey Timeline

 🦅 31st March, LJ2 (male) returned to Brenig

🦅 1st April, Blue372 (female) first seen around Brenig as an intruder, was driven off by LJ2

🦅 Mid April, LJ2 and Blue372 now bonding. Blue416 (male) also intruding around Brenig.

🥚23rd April, 1st egg laid

🥚🥚26th April, 2nd egg laid

🥚🥚🥚29th April, 3rd egg laid

🦅 9th May, Blue 432 intruded on the nest.

🐣 2nd June, 1st chick hatches

🐣 🐣 4th June, 2nd chick hatches

🟦 🟦July 8th, Both chicks ringed.  Chick Blue 8B9 (assumed female), Wing-Length 291mm, Weight 1.62kg.  Chick Blue 8B8 (assumed male), Wing-Length 265mm, Weight 1.5kg

🐣July 18th, Chicks named, Emrys (8B8) and Bethan (8B9)

🦅 27th July 8B9 (Bethan) fledged

🦅 28th July 8B8 (Emrys) fledged

🦅4th September, 372 last seen on the Brenig nest

🦅4th September, 8B8 last seen on the Brenig nest

🦅6th September, 8B9 last seen on the Brenig nest

🦅6th September, LJ2 last seen on the Brenig nest

Season round up video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYsDvYUuFQI&list=PLDfZStW-_stqXZSLROpko…

🦅31st March, LJ2 returned to Brenig

🦅 4th April, LM6 returned to Brenig

  🥚20th April, 1st egg laid

🥚🥚23rd April, 2nd egg laid

🥚🥚🥚26th April. 3rd egg laid

🐣 27th May, 1st chick hatches

🐣🐣29th May, 2nd chick hatches

🐣🐣🐣1st June, 3rd chick hatches

🐣🐣3rd June, 1 chick died

🟦 🟦July 7th, Both chicks ringed.  Chick Blue 7B5 (assumed female), Wing-Length 335mm, Weight 1755g.  Chick Blue 7B6 (assumed female), Wing-Length 323mm, Weight 1730g

🐣July 17th, Chicks named, Blue 7B5 Dilys, Blue 7B6 Mari 

🦅 July 23rd both Blue 7B5 Dilys & Blue 7B6 Mari fledged

🦅26th August, LM6 last seen on the Brenig nest

🦅26th August, 7B6 last seen on the Brenig nest

🦅3oth August, LJ2 last seen on the Brenig nest

🦅30th August, 7B5 last seen on the Brenig nest

 🦅6th April, LJ2 returned to Brenig

🦅 10th April, LM6 returned to Brenig

  🥚25th April, 1st egg laid

🥚🥚28th April, 2nd egg laid

🥚🥚🥚1st May, 3rd egg laid

🐣 1st June, 1st chick hatches

🐣🐣2nd June, 2nd chick hatches

🐣🐣🐣5th June, 3rd chick hatches

🐣🐣5th June, 1 chick died

🟦 🟦July 4th Both chicks ringed.  Chick x6 (assumed female)  Chick KA9 (assumed male)

🐣July 7th  Chicks named, X6 Olwen, KA9 Gelert

🟦 July 8th LM6 loses her ring

🦅 July 26th X6 (Olwen) fledged

🦅 July 28th KA9 (Gelert) fledged

🦅27th August, KA9 last seen on the Brenig nest

🦅30th August, x6 last seen on the Brenig nest

🦅3oth August, LM6 last seen on the Brenig nest

🦅7th September, LJ2 last seen on the Brenig nest