4 June 2026
What a terrible morning. John Williams and the Forestry England team went with the cherry picker to help the little osplets on the Llyn Clywedog nest but when they got there at first light, it was too late.
Dylan had come in with a fish and tried to feed his babies. Only C1 was responsive.
There is no sign of Seren Blue 5F, Dylan’s mate and the chick’s Mum. She flew off the nest suddenly and did not return. She appeared to hear or see something that caused her to leave. Seren was a loving and caring Mum who always had her spot in The Gambia in the winter.
Soar high, Seren and babies.
Dismayed Dylan. He has lost his entire family.
Message from John Williams who has loved and looked after this family beyond his role with Forestry England.
Message from John this morning :
“Its with great sadness that I write this. Sadly the chick’s had already passed when we recovered them this morning, I know people may of been asking why we couldn’t do something sooner, and I wish that it was that easy. You have to weigh up all the outcomes with any decision of intervention you take. Knowing that what ever you do could end the same way with them passing away.
Interventions have been done before, like at the Dyfi but they did have the benefit of both parent birds being there, so that any surviving chick could be returned. We don’t know what has happened to 5F I looked for her but its like looking for a needle in a hay stack, thanks to the Clywedog fishermen for also searching the lakeside too.
It was late last night when it started, at first you have to hope that 5F would come back. As there is no reason for her not to unless she came into harms way, and there would of been no way to know this. Then there is the question how would I get to the nest, id need to hire a cherry picker, after 10pm that wasn’t going to happen, and also id need a skilled operator to come at short notice, out of hours. Then there was the issue of the weather with gusts of over 40mph. You cannot use a cherry picker with winds that strong, and the tree itself isnt safe to climb in the daylight let alone the total darkness.
Best thing I could do was mobilize guys first thing in the morning whilst also seeking advice from experts. No one can doubt my commitment to these birds, I’ve dedicated so much of my life and time to them, here put lots of things on the line for them. It is heartbreaking for me and I know it is for many of you too. 5F is a much loved osprey by us all, I’ve got my fingers crossed that she is safe and well somewhere.
Im not the best with words, but I hope I’ve demonstrated to you all that we couldn’t of done much more than we have already for them, as hard as I know it is. Its been a very stressfull time for me, and im really sorry”
