MANTON BAY - JULY 2023

Continued from Manton Bay - June 2023  

Details about the Manton Bay nest can be found on the season’s opening post.      

The season so far:  Blue 33(11) returned March 16 @ 12:58 and Maya on March 19 @ 06:54.  Maya has laid four eggs - Apr 4 @ 15:52, April 7 @ 09:04, April 10 @ 07:03 and April 13 @ 08:08.  38 days later on May 12 @ 08:18 the first chick hatched followed by chick #2 on May 14 @ 06:36 and chick #3 was first seen @ 05:45 on May 17.  Chick #4 hatched on May 18 @ 18:53 and not long after a live fish was delivered to the nest causing havoc and the little chick died the following morning.   On June 24, the chicks were ringed – Blue 3H3(F), Blue 3H4(M) and Blue 3H5(F).

© Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust 

Over the next few days we will see the chicks flapping, strengthening their wings ready to take that great leap of faith and fledge.

  • 07:43 Fish!! Finally!!

    Must have been difficult to fish yesterday.. just a tiny one in the evening. But this one is big enough..

    Mayhem all around ofc as everyone comes down to get it!

    3H3 gets it (and 33 talon) first..

    Hopefully 3H4 will get some too.. he will need the energy to be able to fledge today

  • Morning ALL  

    00:01   3H4 sleeps alone on the nest

    01:09   Awake and looking up - suspect some of the family are on the camp post

    04:12  3H3 now joins her sibling who slept alone overnight on the nest

     

    04:49  sunrise

    05:13  Chicks coming and going - 3H4 looking around - will he go today?

    07:16   after a rest, still thinking about it

    07:43  33 arrives with a large fish

    and one by one the family arrive and make a dive for the fish and 33 gets his leg pulled instead of the fish 

    33 flies off leaving the winner guarding the fish

    07:47  Maya has now flown leaving the chicks to share the fish

    © Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust 

  • Reminder of the chicks ages - today:

    3H3 is 57 days old

    3H4 is 55 days old and

    3H5 is 52 days old

  • great effort by 3H4 as his sibling eats

    up out of sight

    again - 3H4 is not interested in eating - just flapping those wings

    08:38  3H4 now has his share

    © Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust 

  • 08:46   Maya arrives and collects the fish

    3H4 moves over and as Maya eats, she slips him the odd bit

    and another arrives to be fed by mum

    © Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust 

  • 15:43  chicks on the nest waiting and shouting on dad bringing them a fish

    15:46  33 arrives with a huge fish

    quickly taken by 3H3 as 3H5 returns

    she guards her fish

    it's a massive fish!!

    © Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust 

  • 16:01  3H3 still has the fish -  33 should have removed the head for them

    16:43  3H3 continues to battle with the fish as 3H5 picks up some loose bits

    16:47  tired of waiting, 3H5 flies off

    16:50  3H3 gives up

    16:53  33 arrives, has a couple of bits as 3H4 takes the fish from him

    3H5 returns as 3H4 continues to eat

    16:57  3H5 now takes the fish and drags it over the nest

    17:21  33 arrives and grabs the fish and then flies off with it

    17:36  Maya joins 3H4 and shouts for the fish

    17;45  33 returns with the fish and stands with Maya as 3H4 tucks in

    18:22  3H4 finishes and Maya grabs the fish

    18:25  Maya tucks in and offers 3H4 some more

    present - 18:32   Maya and 3H4 continue to feast

    © Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust 

  •  He did it!!

    3H4 fledges (or branched) to the cam!! Whoohoo!!