Continued from Manton Bay – May 2020
The history of the Manton Bay nest, breeding stats and links to previous threads can be found here
The season so far: The resident pair both returned on 16 March - Blue 33(11) at 07:12 and Maya at 13:16. For the second consecutive year, Maya laid four eggs – the first on 29 March followed by another three first seen on 4, 6 and 9 April. Maya and Blue 33(11) faithfully incubated the four eggs and on day 38, the first chick hatched 6 May c13:20 followed by Chick #2 on 8 May c06:10, Chick #3 on 10 May c14:45, and Chick #4 on 13 May c20:45.
All four chicks have thrived under the protection of Maya and Blue 33(11) who has once again proved to be a fantastic provider for his family.
In two/three week’s time, the chicks will be ringed and we’ll learn a bit more about them.
Webcam\Copyright: © Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
10:27 Feed underway
10:40 #4 has been very patient this feed and waiting its turn and now moves forward
10:41 #4 in line and being fed along with its sibling
10:42 #4 now has the fish all to itself
10:58 Feed over - chicks all snuggled down and Maya appears to be finishing off the fish
© Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
FISH @ 14:20
33 arrives with a fish, mantling
Maya takes off - the chicks flatten but one nibbles the fish still in 33's talons
14:23 Maya returns and takes the fish
14:27 Maya starts feeding the chicks
Nice to see #4 up on its feet and looking a little more steadier
Maya stands watching over the chicks while waiting on 33 bringing dinner
#4 has itself in prime spot :-)
33 visits -
but soon takes off leaving the chick to continue its wing exercising
FISH @ 18:30
#4 gets itself in front for fish :-D
18:31 33 flies off leaving Maya to feed the chicks - #4 getting a nice big chunk here
18:31 Older chicks watch 33 flying off but #4 has its eyes on the fish :-)
Maya starts feeding #4 and its sibling
18:32 more fish :-D
18:39 all chicks now up for fish
#4 still feasting
18:43 the feed continues
Lots of wing exercising from an older chick - best viewed in videos below as captures don't justify its efforts
18:52 Feed over
Video of 18:30 Feed - contains lovely view of all the chicks and wing exercising from one of the older chicks.
Part 1
Part 2
In the last few minutes, 33 has been in with another fish!!!
Missed delivery as I was posting above
What a whopper of a fish 33 has just brought in!!
20:11 Maya feeding the chicks again
older chicks turn away but not #4 - it stays and Maya feeds it more :-D
#4 is now joined by its older sibling
20:17 all chicks around her now
20:19 #4 turns away
20:21 Maya leaves the fish and cleans up around also slipping one of the older chicks a bit