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.

  • Morning Kate, yes the time for him to leave has been drawing nearer the past week and probably why I started to include his age at the start of my morning posts.   And yes I did think with all the fish he was getting he would be here until at least 102 days!  But we never know. 

    It is just so strange this morning not seeing and hearing IR0 yelling for his breakfish!

    He may be off exploring and could still turn up but it is perfect weather  - time will tell :-)

  • 09:04  And IR0 arrives - he is still here

    09:13  FISH  - 33 arrives with his breakfish

    and soon tucking in

    09:32 IR0 has finished

    09:33  Maya arrives and collects the fish as IR0 cleans his beak

    Maya flies off with the fish

    09:34  IR0 continues to clean his beak

    09:35  IR0 then flies off 

    ENS

    The family are all still here and all fed well this morning.

    Off out - SYL

  • Some interesting stats from Rutland 

  • Haha, Great minds - I was thinking the same as Rutland about 1R0. I think he will be like his big sister 1H1(22) and stay here for 112 days! FishJoy

  • 12:33 IR0 arrived as 33 was approaching with a fish

    Its a lively fish - 33 keeps hold

    IR0 wants the fish 

    33 lets go and the fish is flapping around the nest 

    33 flies off leaving IR0 to catch the flapping fish

    IR0 stands on it for a minute

    12:54  Off he flies with it

  • Glider said:

    Haha, Great minds - I was thinking the same as Rutland about 1R0. I think he will be like his big sister 1H1(22) and stay here for 112 days! FishJoy

    I think we're all thinking this Glider - absolutely spoilt with fish.  And it shows, he's double the size of 33 !!   Laughing

  • 17:17 33 approaches

    fish in talon

    IR0 in hot pursuit

    IR0 moves to take the fish

    father and son

    33 flies off

     and IR0 follows with the fish

  • Morning ALL - Today, IR0 is 99 days old.

    There was no late fish last night, IR0 arrived about 18:43 spending about 5 minutes fish calling and then flew off.

    Couple of captures from last night:

    And this morning:

    06:55  IR0 lands on the nest - he is getting later!

    He soon flies off and back on the nest about 07:25 waiting on his breakfish

    07:37  33 arrives with a huge, headless fish for him

    IR0 takes the fish as 33 cleans his beak

    33 flies off leaving IR0 to tuck in

    08:02  IR0 has finished and cleaning his beak

    IR0 flies off 

    08:11  Maya arrives, collects the fish

    and flies off with it

    A gull appears but doesn't land - knows better!

    Off out for the day - BFN

  • Checking back and IR0 has been on and off the nest all day waiting and fish calling.  Some random captures of him:  

    13:25  Mantling and yelling!

    14:01 

    14:05

    14:05

    and just now 

    15:17  IR0 still fish calling

  • 15:34  33 approaches with a FISH

    IR0 grabs the fish and also 33's talon !!!

    the fish drops but IR0 holds on to 33's talon

    33 flies off

    leaving IR0 with the fish

    15:34  IR0 flies off with the fish