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.
Blue33 spent hours on the nest this evening!
IMAGICAT
22 March
Up to 04:45 no-one has been on the nest.
05:09
Blue33 flew in and is still waiting on the nest, Maya not yet seen:
.
Here she was, and this was the immediate reaction from Blue33:
ENS now.
Glider Good job you lot know what's really happening lol. Assume comical irony in your update is intended
Haha Freebird, yes indeed!
22 March am
Three sample matings from this morning (I haven't seen a fish but that means nothing!):
Friday 22 March
13.52 Maya landed on the nest
Followed quickly by 33, who landed on her back and mated.
He flew off, and Maya flew up to the cam perch (boing!). The give-away shadow!
Then 33 returned which his characteristic long stick, and set to re-organising the furniture.
© L&RWT ROP
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
Afternoon ALL - quick check back and all going to plan. This is day 10, we'll soon be on egg watch. I think Maya has laid her first egg on roughly day 14 since they reunited but with this pair I always look for the unexpected.
Some random captures
06:42 33 spending quite a bit on the nest doing some final adjustments
08:12 Both waiting as are we
09:09 mating attempt
10:07 Maya doing some adjustments
12:52 Maya starting to fish call
13:54 33 brings in a large stick
13:56 After pottering about with the stick, a scrape
14:11 Maya back on the nest
© Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
LOL after a quiet morning, three of us post at once - thank you Scylla and Sheila