A Sad Day
As I write, it's just over 24 hours since one of the osprey chicks died in the nest. Thursday, May 31st started well - very well actually. Just before 10am the third chick hatched from the third laid egg and right on cue, 37 days. Through heavy rain we could just about see its little pink body struggling out of the egg in the mass of feathers that was covering it and the other two chicks.
A text-book 37 day hatching - welcome to the world 
The problem was the rain. It rained and rained and rained for hour after hour. Nora had a dilemma. Did she get up and feed the chicks exposing them all to the heavy rain and strong winds, or did she stay put and keep them as warm and dry as possible?. Both strategies have their pros and cons.
Monty and Nora's determination and resolve in heavy rain and wind was truly inspirational
Both Monty and Nora spent most of the day trying desperately to protect their young family in atrocious conditions, it was very emotional to see live. The pair took the brunt of the weather collectively and without fail. Nora chose that latter strategy and finally stood up off her chicks six hours later at just before 4pm. This is what we saw:
We had our first proper glimpse at the newly hatched chick and chick No 2, but the first hatched was nowhere to be seen at first and then we found him underneath the other two hungry, begging chicks. He was clearly dead. Did Nora do the right thing behaviourally? We may never know, but a day later we have two seemingly healthy chicks in the nest eating away like good ones. She probably did.
The rain finally eased at around 7pm by which time neither chick had fed that day. With the light fading quickly Monty disappeared into the gloom. All the volunteers stayed on in the visitor centre, nobody wanted to leave, all eager to see Monty return with a fish. And return he did after what seemed like an eternity - he had a good sized flounder.
Hurry up Monty - give it up..
By the time Monty had had his share it was gone 8pm and we had great misgivings as to whether the two remaining chicks would survive the evening, let alone the night. One thing was abundantly obvious - if Monty had failed to catch a fish before it had gone dark, both remaining chicks would certainly have died. What an absolute star.
Fast forward a day and things look a lot different. Nora has pushed the dead chick to the side of the nest - neither osprey will eat it, they only eat fish. It will probably be hurled over the edge of the nest in the next day or two.
The sun is out, the wind is calm, and Monty has brought back a handsome looking brown trout. All the family are eating well including the small ones.
When I worked at the RSPB's Glaslyn Osprey Project we lost a chick in the nest both in 2006 and 2007. Not only is it devastating for the osprey parents, but also for all the people that have worked so hard to protect them up to that point. My heart went out yesterday to all those that had done the same at the Dyfi. Alas, nature is nature of course, all looks well with the family of four right now, but more rain is forecast over the weekend. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
Growing up as a kid in Caernarfon, I used to go fishing for sea bass and mackerel with my Dad by Victoria dock, just outside the castle. After great initial expectations I invariably, and often, returned with nothing but a flounder or two to show for my day's efforts. A grey, boring, unattractive mud eating flat fish - they even taste like mud. To quash the disappointment, a trip to the local chippy was frequently in order.
How times change - I've never been so happy to see a flounder in all my life as I did last night. Let's hope this rain isn't as bad as forecast for the Jubilee weekend.
What a lovely film, glad they are doing ok. Am keeping my fingers crossed for them.
You are doing a marvellous job in difficult conditions. We were depressed at the loss of the first chick so you must have been devastated. I can imagine the atmosphere at the visitor centre. We are keeping our fingers crossed for the 'family' and hope the weather is clement.
thank you for giving us so much information. Its terribly sad about the little chick who died, fingers are crossed for the other two.
I hope and pray that all goes well with these two chicks. It must have been awful for you all at the centre watching and not being able to do anything to help Monty and Nora. I couldn't believe it that the 1st chick had died, I thought it would have been the stongest. Nature can be hard to watch sometimes and other times really beautiful and heartwarming.
Awful that the first born chick has died, but fingers and everything else crossed that the other two make it to adulthood. Fingers crossed that the forecast rain for Sunday isn't as bad as it was for you up there yesterday.
Thank you for the film and information. Very sad to see the little'un dead. It's so moving to watch the footage. We'll all be anxious over the weekend re the weather. Take care all.
Thanks very much for keeping us so well informed, you all do such a fantastic job there and Dyfi is a special place. So gutted for you all and Monty and Nora who are so dedicated and trying to do the best for their family, nature is cruel at times. We are all behind you now and let's hope we end up with two lovely strong chicks at the end of the season, you all deserve it.
Great blog Ems, describes the ups and downs of yesterday very well. I will not forget the sight of Nora and Monty desperately trying to shield their young from the elements. What rotten fickle weather.
So sad about the first chick but really nice to see that you have two healthy chicks that are feeding. Have a great weekend with the girls that are coming to visit.
A Lovely film! It's good to have all this info! Let's hope they get thtough the next lot of bad weather! Fingers crossed!
Am so pleased to access the live streaming... have made a donation to help with the financing of the live streaming. It was most unfortunate to have lost chick no.1, but fingers and talons crossed for the remaining two chicks to get through all the trials and tribulations of this wet Welsh weather! Thanks to all at Dyfi for a sterling job of keeping us osprey watchers up to date with all the news coming from the nest. Hope to visit the site this summer. Mega hugs for all xx
what a rollercoaster ride it was. even reading this makes me so emotional - so god knows what it must have been like for the volunteers. amazing photo of them both sitting on nest. what great parents they are.
Ems, to you and all your staff and volunteers, I shouldn't think ANYONE will criticise what you did today. Clearly a difficult decision to make, but I whole-heartedly applaud you, this chick now has, thanks to you, a second roll of the dice. THANK YOU from the depths of my heart!! I raise my glass to you all!! CHEERS!!
Very sad that 2 chicks have died. You did the right thing feeding the chick yesterday , it wouldn't have survived without your help. The weather is definitely the blame of the other chicks death , no way you can call this June.
Very sad that 2 chicks have died. You did the right thing feeding the chick yesterday , it wouldn't have survived without your help. The weather is definitely the blame of the other chicks death , no way you can call this June.
Very sad that 2 chicks have died. You did the right thing feeding the chick yesterday , it wouldn't have survived without your help. The weather is definitely the blame of the other chicks death , no way you can call this June.
I was amazed at what you did to save the last Chick,it was the decision . My heart went out for that poor Adult bird trying her best to feed the Chick it such Grim weather conditions. I am sure if that bird could talk you would be truly thanked, Good people like your team have the best thanks from me. I can't wait to see the programme tomorrow.