Continued from Manton Bay – April 2024.
The history of the Manton Bay nest and stats can be found here .
The season so far: On 12 March, Maya returned 12 March @ 15:58 and Blue 33(11) on the 13 March @ 15:25. Maya laid her first egg on 30 March @ 13:58, the second on 02 April @ 13:15 and a third on 05 April @ 11:06.
All images in this thread copyright of © Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
Maya and 33(11) have taken turns incubating their precious eggs and we should see the first hatch towards the end of the first week in May.
Morning All and thanks for the links Sandra
07:33 33 arrives. Bob stirs but sleeps on. Maya rises. Preens
then a stretch
which she overdoes and whaps 33 lol
33 takes off and Maya soon settles down
08:11 unseen threat - Maya up and a little agitated
soon passes and after a check Maya settles back down on the bob
08:30 unseen threat - Maya agitated
Maya rises and gives chase
33 arrives with a huge fish - looks like a pike
Maya returns - both mantling
08:31 Maya and 33 give chase leaving the fish lying on the nest with bob
08:32 Maya returns, stays briefly and off again. She returns quickly and covers bob
08:35 Maya still mantling, 33 now joins her
08:36 Maya grabs the fish - 33 continues to defend then flies off
08:37 Maya starts on the fish and soon offers bob some fish
soon finished and settled down
08:58 33 is back but soon flies off leaving the fish with Maya
09:38 Watching 33 stand by as Maya stands on the fish. 33 flies off and then Maya takes off with the fish
33 swiftly arrives and watches over bob
33 appears to be thinking about brooding or is it instinct still seeing the egg to incubate
So unlike Maya to take off !!
09:44 33 settles down brooding the chick, incubating the egg - this is the first time I have ever seen 33 do this
10:00 Maya returns without the fish
10:03 33 takes off and Maya settles down
Oh dear, does it mean she dropped the fish? Or, now she has a Bob, and and egg, she isn't taking her time over her meal?
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
That’s amazing to see a male brood the chick. All these years of being a father and 33’s learning something new.
catch up
12:13 33 arrives with another fish
bob gots its head up
13:53 Maya has eaten some fish. 33 flies off and Maya then leaves the fish - nothing for bob
Maya then settles down to brood rising again at
14:30 Maya eats some more fish
14:32 Maya finishes, again nothing for bob and she settles down to brood
14:40 Maya rises, takes off and 33 arrives
33 watches over bob
14:42 Maya returns
and takes off again - 33 remains with bob - and she returns a minute later after having had a dip
Maya preens, then settles down rising for more fish at
15:33 Maya tucks in - bob has its head up wanting fed
15:40 Maya leaves the fish - once more I saw the bob get nothing -
Maya once more settles down and rises at
16:38 Maya rises goes to the fish then moves away . Bob has its head up and beak open
16:41 Maya returns to the fish and eats - bob wants fish
16:46 Maya continues to feast - bob has had nothing!!
16:50 Maya leaves the fish. A couple of times it looked as if she was going to feed it but didn't.
16:51 She tidies then settles
I haven't seen bob get anything.
17:49 Maya is up again and bob has its beak open
17:51 Once more Maya is eating
17:55 At last - Bob gets a bit of fish
and another
and another bit
17:58 Feed over. At least bob got about 4 bits