MANTON BAY – August 2024 to End of February 2025

Continued from Manton Bay – June/July 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) arrived 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 removed 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 who thankfully was none the worse for its ordeal.  A few weeks later the unviable egg eventually broke and was removed by Maya. The chick continued to thrive under the care and protection of its parents and on 19 June 2024 it was sexed, vitals noted and fitted with the blue darvic "IR0". The ringing of Blue 1R0(24) can be viewed here.  A couple of weeks later on 3 July 2024 at 08:07  Blue 1R0 fledged.

Blue 33 will continue to provide for his family and Blue 1R0 will explore his surroundings, building his strength and confidence for the long journey ahead when in a few weeks time he’ll take off on his first migration.  Maya and Blue 33, their job done, will soon follow. 

Edit: End of Season Update:

28 Aug 09:54: Last sighting of the family together this season

29 Aug 09:42: Blue 1R0(24) last seen on the nest

30 Aug 06:40: Maya last seen on the nest

02 Sep 13:32: 33 last seen on nest/tree

We wish them a safe journey and safe return.

  • Couple of captures from earlier:

    11:01  IR0 with mum

     11:07  and dad

    16:13  IR0 having a wee rest 

    Quickly checking back, IR0 has been on and off the nest all day but I haven't seen any fish deliveries since this morning.  

  • Cam is down - hopefully resolved soon 

    Off now - BFN

  • Morning ALL

    05:13  IR0 on the nest and fish calling

    view from W/A cam

    05:25  IR0 flies off

    06:30  33 arrives with a long stick

    33 soon leaves -  ENS

  • 08:08  Brief visit from Maya

    She flies up to the cam post and 33 lands

    All the family are about this morning 

  • 15:17   IR0 on the nest, yelling and backing into retrieving position as 33 approaches

    what a whopper of a fish!!

    and soon tucking in

  • 15:56  still tucking in

    16:07  Maya arrives

    16:09  Maya takes hold and flies off with the fish

    16:10   33 arrives with a stick

    33 takes off leaving IR0 cleaning his beak

    16:12  IR0 after picking up loose bits of the nest, flies off

    ENS

  • 19:01  IR0 has been on the nest fish calling

    19:02  33 approaches

    33 flies off leaving IR0 tucking in

    19:31  Once IR0 has finished and flown, 33 arrives, collects the fish and then flies off with it

  • Morning ALL

    05:52  Brief sighting of IR0 who comes down from the cam post

    05:34  33 lands with a headless fish,  IR0 follows (Maya's talons seen heading to the cam post)

    33 will not give IR0 the fish

    Minute later, 33 flies off with the fish

    05:43  IR0 waits and yells

    IR0 leaves

    06:24  Maya arrives followed by 33 with the fish

    Maya takes the fish from 33 then flies off with it

    06:25  IR0 arrives as 33 cleans his beak

    33 then IR0 flies off -  ENS

    07:26  33 doing a little nest work

    33 soon leaves - ENS

    Strange but I haven't seen IR0 fed this morning (I've double checked scroll back, maybe I've missed it) but if not

    Could 33 now be hinting to his son that it's about time he was on his way?"

  • Quick check on today's activities

    08:09  IR0 still waiting on his breakfish.  Yelling for fish

    11:15  After a spell away, IR0 returns - still waiting

    14:34  Back again - still no signs of IR0 receiving a fish

    14:36 IR0 flies up to the cam post

    14:38 - 16:32  ENS

    16:37  33 arrives with a tiddler

    IR0 follows and grabs the fish

    pecks at it - it really is a tiny piece of fish

    16:40  after a couple of minutes, IR0 flies off 

  • 17:31  33 arrives

    IR0 hot on his talons

    IR0 is yelling at 33 for fish

    33 takes off and IR0 continues to yell

    17:40  IR0 waits at the edge of the nest looking out for 33

    Hopefully 33 will bring him a fish tea soon