Link to previous thread: Manton Bay – May 2019
The season so far: Maya arrived back 14 March and Blue 33(11) on 23 March. Maya laid 4 eggs 2, 5, 8 and 11 April hatching 11, 11, 13 and 17 May. Maya and 33 continue to work hard to raise their young and 33 is once more proving to be an excellent provider bringing in plenty of fish to feed his family.
Link to Webcam\Copyright: © Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
07:15 Another top up from Maya and once more #4 gets a few bits of fish
#4 soon turns away and joins it siblings. All the chicks are full and now enjoying a snooze in the morning sun.
© Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
33 arrives with a large stick
then tramples about placing it. Little #4 is lying in the middle of the nest!
Yes, as the chicks get more inquisitive, the sides are now starting to go up !
33 is off again
Birdies LG DU update.
Maya now arrives with some hay.
#4 sitting up and looking quite chubby :-)
I keep telling myself that soon the older chicks will stop growing and then this little one will catch up
When out walking my dog this morning I was told a really funny joke which I’ll share as it is sort of bird related.
A young man won a million on “Who wants to be a Millionaire” but was lucky for he had one life left and had to phone a friend. He read out the question which was “Which bird doesn’t build a nest” - a) Swallow b) Sparrow c) Cuckoo and d) Blackbird” to his friend who replied “Cuckoo”. The young man was delighted that his friend knew the answer but asked “are you sure – how do you know?” His friend replied “I'm 100% it’s a cuckoo that doesn’t build a nest for they live in clocks”
Maya standing guard over the chicks.
I hope 33 brings a fish in soon for it is now about 3 hours since the last feed and the older ones will be getting hungry.
FISH
33 flies off. One of the older chicks and #3 being fed first. The other along with #4 remain at the back but #4 is looking
#4 makes it way and pushes into the line and gets a piece of fish
Older chicks don't look too bothered and leave #3 and #4 to be fed
10:39 #3 turns around leaving #4 alone with Maya and its getting plenty of fish
Richard B
Jane - yes little #4 is doing well :-) It is now 3 weeks since the eldest chicks hatched and #4 is 6 days younger which is really quite significant. I expect over the next few weeks they will just grow and grow as will their appetites. 33 will really have to move up a gear and I am sure he will. I always laugh hearing them referred to as the GEMs - Giant Eating Machines. I am not sure as to when exactly they slow down but think it must be around 5 weeks for is that not when they get ringed? It will be interesting to see if they will be able to ring #4 as it may not be fully grown.