Continued from Manton Bay – June 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. Maya, for the second consecutive year, laid four eggs – the first on 29 March and the other three first seen 4, 6 and 9 April. Maya and Blue 33(11) faithfully incubated the eggs and on day 38, chick #1 hatched 6 May c 13:20 followed by chick #2 on 8 May c 06:10, chick #3 on 10 May c14:45, and chick #4 on 13 May c20:45. On 16 June the chicks were ringed with their blue darvics – chick #1- 080, chick #2 - 081, chick #3 - 082 and chick #4 - 083 - and are all thought to be males.
On 26 June at 16:03, Blue 080 fledged aged 51 days followed by Blue 082 at 06:15 on 29 June aged 50 days and soon 081 and 083 will too.
For the next six weeks or so, the chicks will explore their surroundings perfecting their flying skills and strengthening their wings and for when they migrate. Until then Maya and 33 will protect their young and 33 will continue to bring in fish for his family.
Webcam\Copyright: © Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
082 on the nest just now and calling
© Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
11:24 Maya arrives with a fish piece
Quickly taken by 082
082 shields his fish
11:24 Maya flies off. 33 arrives with a fish piece in talon while 082 mantles, protecting his
33 flies off with his fish piece and then 082 follows - flying off the nest with his fish piece!
16:26 33 arrives - 081 and 082 yelling
16:27 33 flies off as 083 appears
16:30 083 does a little nidifying :-D
and then a rest while waiting on dinner
The one that got away!!!
FISH @ 16:33
33 arrives with a live fish which he drops on the nest.
Fish flaps and goes over the edge!! Their faces are a picture :-D
33 flies off
Video: The fish that got away!
It was funny Alison and easy to laugh at as we know 33 will just go off and get another :-)
Meanwhile - just looked at the nest and see a large fish has been delivered
Appears to be 082 who is tucking in while the other three wait
18:34 082 still eating as 081 waits - it is a huge fish!
18:35 081 moves closer
18:45 082 finishes and wipes his beak.
081 continues eating some bits of fish - perhaps some innards taken earlier
18:47 082 flies off and 081 takes the fish
18:34 083 arrives followed a minute later by 080 who takes the fish from 081 with no objections.
081 wipes his beak, flies off and 080, who appears to be very hungry, eats while 083 walks around the nest picking up fish bits
19:28 Maya has now arrived and waits along with 083 who has moved nearer 080 / the fish
19:32 Maya flies off
19:34 080 finishes, moves from the fish and wipes his beak
19:35 080 flies off.
083 grabs the fish and seems to be pecking at the tail!
19:39 083 soon drags it across the nest and now tucking in
All juveniles fed from this fish and there will be plenty left for Maya and 33.
Off for the night now. BFN