Ospreys at Llyn Brenig

Osprey Llyn Brenig

© Andy Bell

Visit the Ospreys at Brenig

See these magnificent birds of prey with you own eyes on the shores of Llyn Brenig

The Brenig Osprey Project

We are waiting patiently for the birds to return from their migration.

Our Osprey Lookout will be open on the 23rd and 24th March before opening fully for the season on the 29th March.

We are currently looking to raise some money to purchase extra viewing equipment to help more of the public to see these magnificent birds, including child friendly equipment.

Please donate below if you can help. Thank you!

Donate

Llyn Brenig ©DCWW

On the shores of the beautiful and picturesque Llyn Brenig the staff and volunteers of North Wales Wildlife Trust undertake conservation work in partnership with Dŵr Cymru / Welsh Water to protect our breeding ospreys.  Come and visit us and learn more!

You could also take a stroll through our largest nature reserve Gors Maen Llwyd on the north shore of the reservoir, bursting with wildlife, this spectacular upland heather moorland feels truly wild.

Nest cam live stream:

The Llyn Brenig Osprey Nest

About the Llyn Brenig Osprey Nest

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 30th 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 27th May and last seen at Llyn Brenig 30th August.  Also, Blue 7B6 Mari, hatched 29th May and last seen at Llyn Brenig 26th August.

We are excited to see what 2024 will bring!

2022 Osprey Timeline

 🦅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

2023 Osprey Timeline

🦅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

2024 Osprey Timeline

2024 Osprey Timeline

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Juvenille osprey

Juvenille osprey at Llyn Brenig © Dwr Cymru / Welsh Water

2023 Season Highlights

Watch our season round-up video, revisiting some key moments of 2023

Watch here
Osprey Hide

BOP

Book the Hide

Book the Brenig Osprey Hide

During the breeding season, you can book the osprey hide and get amazing views of the birds around their nesting platform. It has one-way glass, snoods, gimbals and even comfy seats. Supporters of NWWT also get a discount.

Book now
Lookout nest

NWWT

Volunteer

We need your help! We require volunteers for the 2024 Osprey Season at our Lookout, Hide and Visitor Centre at Llyn Brenig and also online being part of Osprey Watch. 

To find out more about these opportunities or to apply please email.

Sarah.Callon@northwaleswildlifetrust.org.uk

Become a volunteer
A large lake surrounded by moorland, mainly brown with dried up heather, but some green grasses in the foreground and fields to the left. A small track and fence line separates the  fields from the reserve. On the far side of the lake hills rise to enclose the area, with a shadow cast over them by immense fluffy clouds. Above them the sky is a deep blue, and the sun is illuminating the cloud edge so it glows bright white.

Llyn Brenig landscape © NWWT

Events

Join us to explore and experience North Wales' wonderful wildlife at Llyn Brenig and on Gors Maen Llwyd our largest nature reserve on the shore of the lake, spectucular upland heather moorland that feels truly wild.

View all events

Become a member

The best way to support the work our staff do at Llyn Brenig is to become a member, all the money we raise stays within and pays for projects in North Wales.

Young woman birdwatching at Rutland Water
From £3.00 a month

Individual membership

Individual membership for one person
Couples membership
From £3.50 a month

Joint membership

Joint membership for two people
A small boy carrying a stick, walking through a woodland with large old trees and bluebells carpeting the floor. Behind him is a young girl running up to him, and a woman bending down to look at the flowers.
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Family membership

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Make a donation

Your donation helps us create an environment rich in wildlife, valued by all.
£

The Brenig Osprey Conservation Plan sets out the conservation measures required to protect the breeding ospreys at the site.

 Authored by Dr Tim Mackrill of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation on behalf of North Wales Wildlife Trust in collaboration with Dwr Cymru.