Brief history: 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 ousted 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 paired up each year and to date have successfully raised 26 chicks.
Copyright & Link to Webcam: © Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
Links to previous threads can be found here
Maya & Blue 33(11) Arrival Dates can be found here
Manton Bay Nest Breeding Stats 2007 - Present can be found here
Here’s wishing Maya and Blue 33(11) a safe journey home and for another successful season.
01 MARCH - THE NEST:
The nest looks quite different from other seasons for as well as the bin lid to deter to the EGs from laying eggs, it doesn't appear to have been stripped back as much as previous seasons. Couple of captures for comparison
2023
2024
© Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
But regardless what they do, Blue 33(11) will do his own thing :-)
* * * * *
MANTON BAY STATS
Links to previous threads:
Manton Bay 2010 - 2015 included in Rutland Osprey Project Threads.
Manton Bay 2016 - March, April, May, June, July, August,
Manton Bay 2017 - March, April, June, July & August, Sept-End Feb18
Manton Bay 2018 - March, April, May, June, July, August, Sept-End Feb 19
Manton Bay 2019 - March, April, May, June, July, August, Sept-End Feb 20
Manton Bay 2020 - March, April, May, June, July, Aug-End Mar 21
Manton Bay 2021 - March, April, May, June, July, Aug-End Feb 22,
Manton Bay 2022 - Mar-Apr 22, May, June ,July, Aug-End Feb 23
Manton Bay 2023 - Mar-Apr, May, June, July, Aug-End Feb 24
Maya & Blue 33(11) Arrival Dates
Year
Maya
Blue 33(11)
2015
Apr 6
2016
Mar 21
Mar 27
2017
Mar 22
2018
Mar 12
Mar 14
2019
Mar 23
2020
Mar 16
2021
Mar 19
2022
Mar 15
Manton Bay Nest Breeding Stats - 2007 – Present
Male
Female
Chicks
2007
White 08(97)
Green 5N(04)
White YK(F), White YP(M)
2008
Nest Failed
2009
Unused
2010
Green 5R(04)
Unringed/Mrs 5R
Blue 29(F), Blue 30(M), Blue 31(M)
2011
Blue 22(M), Blue 32(M), Blue 52(M)
2012
Blue 8F(M), Blue 9F(M)
2013
Blue 1J(M), Blue 2J(F), Blue 3J(F)
2014
Blue 28(10)
Eggs kicked out by Blue 33(11)
Blue S1(M), Blue S2(M), Blue S3(F)
Blue T6(F), Blue T7(F), Blue T8(M)
Blue 2AM(M), Blue 2AN(F)
Blue 3AU(M), Blue 3AW(F)
Blue 054(F), Blue 055(M), Blue 056(M), Blue 057(F)
Blue 080(M), Blue 081(M), Blue 082(M), Blue 083(M)
Blue 096(M), Blue 095(F)
Blue 1H1(F), Blue 1H2(F), Blue 1H3 (F)
Blue 3H3(F), Blue 3H4(M), Blue 3H5(F)
Love that 4 times they arrived back on the same day! Can't wait to see them again this year.
Wonderful comprehensive history Karen, many thanks for your dedication to this nest!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
02 MARCH
06:35 EGs on the nest - they never give up but so pleased they can't lay any eggs here now. Must have been a nightmare for Maya and 33(11) having to evict them
07:32 Visit from a pied wagtail
While waiting on our stars returning, amusing myself seeing how many different bird visit the nest
Thank you for setting us up nicely for the new season Karen. Yes, crossing everything to see Maya and Blue 33 again.
I can't swear it's the same birdie, KAREN, but while you were away I was casually monitoring the cam a few months ago and he was visiting every day! On 28 December I did a little vid
IMAGICAT
lovely Scylla. We had one visit the garden each day and I was sure it was the same one. I called him Bob simply because of his tail bobbing up and down
But look at the nest back end of December, its so bare.
Confirms imo the nest has been built up and is all ready for 33(11) and Maya.
You're welcome Gilder. Yes beginning to feel a tad excited as could be seeing the first returnee in a couple of weeks
This is not the couple we're itching to see on the nest - but I don't remember seeing a pair of Pied Wagtails before. Probably not going to pose a threat to Maya and Blue33
I wonder if they're waiting till the last possible moment to remove the bin lid and accessories and complete the final primps, to be sure of preventing the EGs from laying?
Only one EG on the nest up to 09:00 - an earlier one had repelled a second and they'd both flown off. Seein' as their days are numbered, here's a fancy Photoscape X frame and a rear view for a change:
I won't be posting any more Wagtails or EGs unless someone asks or something exceptional happens that I happen to capture.