Continued from April 2019
The season so far:
Maya arrived back 14 March and Blue 33(11) on 23 March. They are currently incubating 4 eggs laid 2, 5, 8 and 11 April with the first expected to hatch around 9 May
Link to Webcam\Copyright: © Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
I did the threatened video showing the bonking - and accidentally left off the first clip. Never mind, here's a record of a superpoop (they manage to squit a very long way!), a bonk, gulls buzzing, a superfish in out and back in, and just the start of a feed:
IMAGICAT
#1 and #2 having a go at each other again. I just hope #3 and #4 keeps out of their way!
33 arrives and takes the fish.
He eats some at the side of the nest and then flies off. Maya continues to preen at the side of the nest for she arrived back wet most likely having had a bath.
© Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
Oh no, think we have a bully in the nest! One of the older chicks has just had a go at one of the younger ones, #3 I think.
Good 33 has returned with the fish which Maya takes and begins to feed.
The Quads all have their beaks open
Maya stretching over the larger chicks to reach #3 and #4 at the back
#4 getting some :-)
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
Agree Sheila for I think too it is a bit early for any bickering and can only suspect with #1 and #2 hatching same day, they may already be sorting out the pecking order ??
#1 and #2 at it again!! Hard to capture but they are really going at each other hammer and tongs.. I hate seeing this.
Maya now steps forward and pretends to feed them. I can't think of the word LOL. "Mock" - that's it!. Doesn't work so she has now walked over and picked up a little bit of left over fish and starts to feed to no avail for they are still at it.
After a couple of minutes they behave and line up for their fish. Only a partial view as Maya is blocking.
Feed over and 33 arrives and takes the left over fish from Maya. He eats at the side of nest but there is not a lot and 33 will have to go fishing later.
It is lovely seeing them all together on the nest
Maya slipped back over the nest cup - hope all the chicks are OK. Not sure if it was down to a loose twig, something flying by or just lost her balance. 33 has just about scoffed the fish tail.
33 lands with a huge fish.
Doesn't stay long keeping hold of the fish and flies off again. Most likely still has its head and could still be living :-(
33 returns with the fish, plonks it down beside the cup and the chicks are up and ready :-)
Maya begins to feed
Maya is just tearing at the fish and feeding it to opens beaks - hard work for her and will be more so as they grow!
17:53 - Feed over and Maya now wiping her beak and now cleaning up. And, as far as I could see, all chicks got some fish.