The Glaslyn female has laid her first egg of the season! It happened at 17:16 yesterday teatime. It was getting towards the end of the day, so only a handful of visitors were here to witness it live on the nest-cam.
The female was visibly agitated and kept getting up and down, engaging in displacement activity and generally fussing about the nest. Eventually, she sat back down and flattened herself down across the nest. We know this 'pancake' approach well enough by now. A little shiver along her flattened back was the only outward sign of anything happening below, but seconds later she stood up to have a look and we saw the egg for ourselves.
This image was captured from the nest-cam just seconds after laying, as she sits up to have a look at what's underneath her. She looks ever so slightly dazed - but who wouldn't - and you can see the egg quite clearly here, with maroon and cream mottling.
The male had been on the nest the whole time, watching her, but as soon as the egg was revealed, he bounded over for a closer look, literally sticking his beak into the action. He got the brush off from 'mummy' who nudged him away but less than a minute later they were both stood up rubbing beaks, sharing a tender little moment together. Well it certainly looked that way to us soft-hearted romantics on the ground.
This little egg will be the focus of the female's attention for the next 37 days, as she dedcates herself to incubating. She'll spend most of her time sitting on top of it - and any other eggs that emerge over the coming days. We would expect another one to appear tomorrow (Thursday) and possibly a third over the weekend.
There's no danger of the egg being crushed, she's very gentle with it. The feathers at the base of her chest are a little thinner than elsewhere on her body, allowing eggs to nestle in and be closer to her skin, so that they get more body heat. Whilst the egg has been inside her, its temperature has been very consistent and efficiently regulated, so during these first few days after laying, it's vital that she maintains a regular temperature for the egg.
It will be a pretty idle 5 weeks for the female, apart from a few short flights to stretch her wings she will be sat on the nest the whole time. She will also get up for short intervals to nudge the egg over so that her heat gets distributed evenly.
So, one egg is safely out and there may well be more to come. Keep checking for news of more eggs over the next few days. Whilst the female is potentially laying a third egg over the weekend, I will be running the London Marathon to raise money for the RSPB's Save the Sumatran Rainforest campaign. In the time it takes me to complete the run, around 6000 hectares of the World's forests will have been destroyed. If you want to help, please visit www.justgiving.com/wendyjohnson Many thanks!
awesome news wendy, i should be down this weekend to check her and the proud father to be out for myself
see you then!
The tracklaying gang on the railway had a visit from an osprey - presumably the male - the other day. He flew past at a range of a hundred metres - or maybe less, difficult to tell - and having inspected us on the level, floated up and did a couple of circles around us to check us again. Then, evidently reassured, he went off along the river looking for supper.
We have consistently found that wildlife - mountain goats, foxes, buzzards, stoats for example - do not mind people in orange jackets. They know we stay on the railway.
Pedr Jarvis
Greetings from Northumberland, from a Volunteer with the Northern Kites Project. Like you, we are eagerly waiting for our red kites to settle and breed in increasing numbers, in the Derwent Valley.
We were at Bassenthwaite yesterday, and saw the Osprey pair on the nest, via the video link at the excellent Visitor Centre at Whinlatter. Having arrived only a few days ago, they are settling in nicely.
We wish you every success in Wales!