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.
Checking back and not a lot to report - 33 on the nest looking a tad agitated so some intruders going around and Maya, after a morning dip enjoyed a good preen while watching over the little bob who has been snoozing in the sunshine.
12:54 33 arrives with a large fish - first I've seen this morning
Maya drags it over and the little chick is up and ready for fish
and it gets a bit
33 flies off leaving Maya and the little one tucking in
Maya takes a comfort break - what a huge crop the little one has
13:20 33 arrives, soon grabs the fish and eats at side of nest with the little one zonked out
33 then drags it across the nest disturbing the little bob!
he continues to eat back of nest and bob zonks out again
Maya returns, 33 takes off but later returns
14:25 all together
and just now (14:53) Maya settled down along with the bob
Karen said:Maya takes a comfort break - what a huge crop the little one has
Gosh, the little one has grown, Karen! I wonder if it was thinking how it was going to fit in anymore of that fab fish!
I know Sandra, the difference in a week is unbelievable.
But perhaps it looks big as there are no siblings to compare it to as we always are used to seeing a teeny weeny #3
16:32 Maya is packing more fish into the little one
I wonder how much longer it will be able to stay vertical with that crop
gravity is winning
and soon horizontal
16:38 that little one should sleep for ages lol
17:08 little one continues to snooze off its fish
Edit
17:32 Maya has been up for a bit preening and its still zonked out lol
18:49 33 arrives with a fish
Maya and the little one eagerly await supper as 33 keeps hold of it
Maya grabs a fish piece lying on the nest as 33 eats from his. Little bob is in the middle and facing the wrong way as 33 offers some
Maya soon takes the fish from 33
Maya feeds herself and the bob - crop filled to max again
and then settles down
Oh just look at that darling bob - it's as cute as can be!
20:25 Maya enjoying some fish
20:26 Little one soon senses fish on the go and rises
more fish -
20:30 Maya continues to pack the fish into it
20:34 feed over and Maya settles down
When will she learn about the dangerous flapping Tail????
Morning ALL
06:30 33 arrives with a large fish
Maya grabs hold - its flapping and little chick is up for breakfish
the fish is flapping, gets loose and smacks the little chick. 33 is on stand by
Maya gets hold of it - chick wary
06:33 33 flies off as feed gets underway,
06:45 feed over and Maya settles down with the chick safely under her
06:51 33 collects the fish