A week of intrigue!

One of four osprey visitors

The situation with our ospreys until 28th April was that two males were in occupation; an unringed male believed to be the returning male that built the nest between June and September 2023, and ‘496’ a 3-yr old male raised at Clywedog, Montgomeryshire. The latter had not been seen for part of the last week of April and was assumed to have departed.

On the morning of 29th April an unringed female arrived and by lunchtime mating between these two unringed birds was regularly noted by our Watchers. Things were looking up!!

Nest-building continued between the amorous interludes – new sticks and nest lining were both brought in. After significant storm damage over the winter, and most recently during Storm Kathleen on 6th April the nest was looking rather sorry. However, efforts by the unringed male in particular had created a significant structure again. Up to 5 Jackdaws continued to pilfer some of the lining, but this was tailing off.

Further promising signs were noted from 1st May with sporadic calling by the female which prompted the male to bring in fish indicating he is willing and able to provide for her. The following day nest-cupping was observed whereby the birds drive their bodies into the nest lining to form a cup that it is hoped will hold eggs. At least five small fish were brought to her.

On the 4th, increased agitation by both these unringed birds indicated one or more osprey intruders were on the scene, and observers at viewpoints overlooking the valley noted extra birds. At first the addition was male ‘496’ back again after a week’s absence, and later in the day a large ringed female, origin as yet unknown. All were perched on the nest at some point, and even contributed to the house-keeping.

Should the unringed male and female remain dominant and their pairing successful we might expect the first egg from mid-May. An incubation period of 35-38 days may mean hatching from around 20th June.