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
Maya has been feeding two of the chicks (083 is one of them) since I looked in at 07:09. The other two have been exercising their wings
© Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
Birdies LG DU update.
07:29 Maya feeds the last of the fish to 083 as 080 once more helicopters high out of sight
07:33 Maya flies off. 080 is poised at the side of the nest while 081, 082 and 083 settle down.
Each time I check the nest now I find myself counting heads :-)
080 is on the edge of the nest flapping those wings
from the WA cam
080 rises way up
now out of sight (that is Maya on the nest )
11:20 Maya flies off as 080 comes back down
082 now rises up
helicoptering
and down
some close ups of 080
11:56 chicks flatten - intruder around?
Maya then arrives screeching
After a minute she flies off
12:14 Maya arrives mantling, screeching and wing flapping
33 arrives too
33 flapping and screeching
12:16 33 flies off
I could not see any threat on the WA cam.
Really could do without these intrusions at this time when the chicks are due to fledge
080 once more rising high out of sight - we can just see his talons :-)
Maya flies off - what a beautiful quartet