Continued from Manton Bay – April 2024.
The history of the Manton Bay nest and stats can be found here .
2024 Season Summary: Maya, equalling her own record, was the first osprey to return back arriving on 12 March @ 15:58 and her partner, Blue 33(11) joined her on the 13 March @ 15:25. The pair quickly re-established their bond and Maya laid three eggs, the first on 30 March @ 13:58, the second on 02 April @ 13:15 and a third on 05 April @ 11:06. At 10:50 on 5 May Maya remove one egg from the nest and the pair continued to incubate the two eggs of which only one was viable (most likely the third egg) and hatched at 23:23 on 10 May. On 15 May at 14:21 a live fish was delivered to the nest displacing the chick into the sticks at the side of the nest. Unable to get free, Rutland Officials organised a rescue operation. They accessed the nest and placed the chick back in the middle of the nest and thankfully none the worse for its ordeal.
A few weeks later the unviable egg eventually broke and was removed by Maya. The chick thrived under the care and protection of its parents and on 19 June 2024 was ringed with the Blue Darvic IR0. The ringing was recorded and can be seen here and his vitals were noted as follows:
Blue IR0(24) spent the next couple of weeks strengthening his wings and on 3 July 2024 at 08:07, IRO fledged
Blue 33(11) will continue to provide for his family and IRO will explore his surroundings, building his strength and confidence for the long journey ahead when he will take off on his first migration.
13:47 33 arrives with a smallish fish
14:23 Unseen intruder
Maya and 33 keep watch
threat soon passes and 33 flies off
14:51 Maya eats from the fish lying on the nest
soon the chick joins her and feasts too
14:53 33 arrives with a small fish in talon
33 is mindful of the chick, offering fish but Maya has it covered
- all three enjoying their fish
16:41 afternoon snooze in the sun while mum tidies up
but not for long
17:03 33 arrives with a fresh, live fish and no sign of Maya who took off a little while back
Earlier when Maya wasn't around, 33 soon took off returning at
18:16 with a fish in talon
chick taking much bigger bits of fish now
It won't be long until it will want a fish of its own, Karen! The osplet will soon be into its next stage of feather development
I know Sandra and will be able to eat it at leisure, undisturbed. Suppose that's one of the pluses of being an only chick :-)
But the other fact that struct me today watching the newly hatched bobble at Lynn Brenig is that this chick here would have been the smallest had the other two eggs hatched!! Incredible how advanced this nest is.
I've noticed the pin feathers but unable to get a decent capture. Hopefully soon!
21:46 33 with another fish!
and the chick enjoys a late fish supper
soon turns away and lies down but Maya manages to push another bit into it
Morning ALL
05:11 33 arrives with a large fish for breakfish
Still living, 33 keeps hold of it and the chick tries to nibble
33 drags it round the nest
chick stays back, not too hungry but later has a couple of bits. 33 collects the fish and Maya and the chick rest.
07:21 lots of preening
07:35 33 returns with the fish
33 stands watch while Maya has a break
08:05 Maya returns and feeds the chick