We have two strong chicks in the nest, they are growing up fast!

This year we have seen three early morning hatches for our new family of Bobs.

People often ask us why we call the young ospreys Bob - it is a nick-name we use until they get their real names at ringing. Bob is short for 'Bobble-head', so named, as when they first hatch the chicks' heads 'bobble' about until they strengthen their neck muscles and can hold they heads steady for feeding. 

Idris takes a turn feeding Bob 1

This year the chicks hatched with just two days between each of them:

• EGG 1: 20th May at 08.30
• EGG 2: 22nd May at 06.27
• EGG 3: 24th May at 05.21

Hatchings are always special occasions here at Dyfi Osprey Proect, here is a video of Bob 1 emerging into the world.

Although all three hatchings happened without issue and all three chicks were able to free themselves from their eggs and take a first feed, we had a sudden and sad incident on the 22nd of May. Bob two died on the nest at just eight hours old when it was accidently suffocated. It was just too small to survive. 

Watching nature is sometimes hard and incidents like this happen. We are always sad to lose a chick or indeed any wildlife on the reserve. For the ospreys though this is part of the cycle of life and it means there are more resources available for the two remaining chicks who are growing fast. 

Idris is demonstrating great fishing skills against this year and is keeping the nest well supplied. 

Idris returns with a bass in the evening light

We know you all love the blogs but you might also like to know that we are trialing another way of keeping you up to date with the comings and goings of the Dyfi Osprey Project nest. We have developed an observation log where notable activity and regular updates are shared via a Google Doc accessed from our Live Streaming page. You don't need to login to read it and might find it useful for checking up on what has happened on the nest. 

The document shows the newest information first and you can simply scroll through to delve deeper into the season's key events. You can find the link below the Live Streaming window or click here to go directly to the pages. 

However you choose to keep up to date, the next key date for Big Bob and Bobby Bach (Bach is Welsh for small) will be ringing, which we hope will take place in the last week of June. Until then we will be watching closely as these two grow and change every day.

A pair of very full bobs resting in the nest after another feed