MANTON BAY - May 2024

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. Hugging

  • 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