It's been a busy week at the Dyfi, and a memorable one.

On Saturday morning, despite a few intrusions from Blue 24, Glesni laid her second egg of the year (she laid her first three days before). As the 09:54 Arriva Wales service from Birmingham International was arriving, Glesni had an arrival of her own. This service was right on time too:

Glesni laid two eggs in 2013, it was her first year with Monty after Nora failed to return. The lateness of her arrival probably accounted for a third egg not being laid. In 2014, Glesni was constantly harassed by Blue 24 to such an extent we didn't think she would lay any eggs! Thankfully she did, but 'only' two again.

On Tuesday morning, 28th April 2015, and free from the previous year's problems, Glesni laid her third egg of the season - her first-ever clutch of three.

(Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust would like to put on record our appreciation to Monty for his gallant attempts in moving an obstructing stick from the camera view to allow us a good viewing angle. Thanks Monty)

Barring any unforeseen disruptions, female ospreys usually take just under three days (72 hours) to produce an egg, put some paint on it, and lay it. The second and third egg were both laid 68 hours to 69 hours after the previous one, right on cue.

The painting process (it's actually called 'maculation' and occurs just before laying) is varied and can change substantially even between eggs of the same female in the same clutch in the same year. In 2015, however, all three look pretty similar! Fear not, we have ways of telling them apart!

We enter the busiest time of the year for us now; the 24 hours-a-day protection for these precious eggs from disturbance and egg thieves. Eggspect us to re-emerge at the end of May, gasping for some sunlight and warm air! Meantime, a massive thank-you to all our volunteers who have put their names down on the rotas for the next six weeks.

And finally... The Glaslyn female laid another egg this morning, coincidentally her third of the season also. It is probably another 'hormone egg' without an apparent male around, but it is not too late yet - Glesni didn't lay her first egg until 22nd May in 2013 - keep the faith. Better news from elsewhere in Wales, Dai Dot and his Missus (Delyth), plus the other osprey nest in Snowdonia, have eggs.

Here are some Dyfi dates for the stataholics. The first table shows key days for Glesni and Monty, the second (if you can see it) for all years since 2011.