Author Heather Corfield
For almost two decades the large dark silhouette of Mrs G reigned supreme above the skies of the Glaslyn Valley. In fact, if she was the late summering female seen in 2003, she would have been present for 20 seasons. Alas we will never know whether it was her that summer, but a photograph taken of her in 2004 shows that it was the same female throughout all those years thereafter (photographer unknown).
Many females tried to challenge her, but none succeeded. Often Mrs G would calmly and patiently tolerate younger intruding females with the tenderness of a mother teaching her young, sometimes even showing them her eggs. That was until they tested her patience too far and then she would forcefully send them packing and on their way. 5F/Seren experienced the wrath of Mrs G on several occasions and over time she learned to give the Glaslyn nest a wide berth, or at least until Mrs G started fishing for herself at the end of the season.
Through all kinds of weather, Mrs G protected her precious 60 eggs and 52 chicks, from hailstones and torrential rain to gales and blazing sunshine. A total of 44 chicks successfully migrated from the nest under her care and several of those chicks have gone on to breed themselves, making Mrs G a grandmother to at least 130 and a great grandmother several times over. Her legacy will live on for generations to come throughout the UK.
Mrs G only had two mates during all those years, her first mate Rutland translocated Ochre 11 (98) failed to return from his migration in 2015 and at the end of April that year her second un-ringed mate, Aran arrived. There were only two failed nesting attempts during all those years, one with each mate. The nest collapsed in 2004 and the two chicks were killed and in 2021 Aran injured his wing and was unable to fish at a critical stage and the three newly hatched chicks tragically did not survive.
Although we mourn the loss of Mrs G, we always knew this day would eventually come. She would have been at least 22 or 23 years old and we are incredibly lucky to have had the same female returning to the Glaslyn nest for so many years. It is doubtful that we will ever see another bird returning to the Glaslyn nest for 19 seasons again. Mrs G was remarkable, a very special bird, a legend in her own lifetime and will always be remembered at Glaslyn Ospreys. Fly high sweet beautiful lady.
