Brief history of Manton Bay:
The nest was first occupied by White 08(97) and Green 5N(04) in 2007 who raised 2 chicks. In 2008 they paired again but the nest failed and in 2009 it was unused. In 2010 a new pair, Green 5R(04) and an unringed female nicknamed Mrs 5R, took up residence and over the next four years raised 11 chicks. Green 5R(04) failed to return in 2014 and Mrs 5R paired with a new mate, Blue 28(10) and laid 3 eggs. Blue 33(11) arrived determined to claim this nest and evicted Blue 28(10). Blue 33(11) kicked out the eggs and spent the remainder of the season bonding with Mrs 5R who was then officially named “Maya”. Since 2015, Maya and Blue 33(11) have returned reuniting their partnership and to date have successfully raised 23 chicks.
© Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
Here’s wishing Maya and Blue 33(11) a safe journey home and for another successful season.
Bart molenaar said:At 7:05 blue 25 hit 33 with a nicely aimed ps
It turned out that this was a well-deserved payment for an earlier "assault":
Bart molenaar said: Bit of a strange scene at 18:19, where 33 landed and mantled quite frantically
That's what I would expect when an Osprey is expecting to be reunited with his partner at the start of a season, but it turned out to be "only" Blue25 - Blue33 had to make do
I wonder what other treasures are there and I haven't been thru today's footage.
IMAGICAT
The behaviour of 25 is interesting. A similar situation happened last year at Glaslyn. Mrs G arrived long before her mate, Aran, and as soon as she worked out that the male (Aeron/Z2) on the nearest nest (Pont Croesor is only about a mile and a half away from the Glaslyn nest) had arrived, she pretty much went straight over there for the free fish bar. She tolerated some matings, enjoyed the fish he provided, and made no effort to aim properly (out of the nest) thus soiling the nest (but I cannot recall if she managed to hit the male!) That disrespect may have indicated that she was not thinking of staying on that nest or she would have been more careful. Once the female on that PC nest arrived (014, who had been translocated to and fledged from Poole) there was a confrontation between the two females, after which Mrs G scarpered back to her own nest and to Aran who had appeared about a day earlier. Peace then reigned and both nests had a happy outcome. I wonder if perhaps 25 has no intention at the moment to stay at Manton Bay--she knows it is not her nest, but she may be biding her time until her own mate appears. It will be interesting to see what transpires if one or both mates do not show up. Because of its location actually on a reservoir which is stocked with thousands of fish, the MB nest may be the prime real estate in all of the loose 'colony' of Osprey nests in the Rutland area. I have not seen any of the other nests there so could not say that for certain. But many other Ospreys do go fishing on the reservoir and they see the successful production of chicks on that nest, a sure sign of a good local food source. 25 almost always stops at the MB nest each spring while on the way to her own nest--she clearly noticed that Maya was not yet there and then 33 turned up so why not take advantage of a free fish or more while you are waiting?!
Kind regards, Ann
https://ospreycam.net
Richard B
19 March
On the nest from 03:00 this morning !!!
***********
Maya is home !!!
Then Blue33 turned up with FISH !!!
There's been some conflict (surprise-surprise) but I can't tend to it now, I'm saving the footage for editing later today.
So pleased to see Maya but can't imagine what will happen next as two females cannot be a good mix?
33 brings Maya a fish 7.42 am ... romance.