The Osprey nest at Mantonbay is home of Maya and Blue 33(11)
This site has no official connection with the Rutland Osprey Project, but is solely a project by me (bart) to offer an observation board and some background information.
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About the nest:
(info from Rutland Osprey Project)
The Osprey nest in Manton Bay has been in use since 2007, but has been occupied since 2010 by the same female bird, presumably from Scotland, which we have nicknamed 'Maya'.
Maya arrived in the summer of 2009, and spent the summer bonding with a Rutland-fledged male Osprey, 32(05). The pair did not breed, but both returned in 2010. Unfortunately, in 2010 two male Ospreys went missing from Rutland, and 32(05) was one of them. However, she managed to pair up with a male Osprey, 5R(04) which was holding territory at the Manton Bay nest, and they successfully raised three chicks in 2010. At the time, Maya did not have a name and she was always referred to as the Manton Bay Female. Over the next few seasons, it was decided it would be easier to talk and write about her, and for people to relate to her if she had a name, and eventually (in 2014) we settled on Maya. Not only is it a lovely name, but it contains the first and last two letters in Manton Bay, and comes from the Greek Maia, who was the goddess of spring.
Over the three years (2010 to 2013) that Maya and 5R(04) bred together, they successfully raised 11 chicks. Of those 11 chicks, five of their young have since returned to Rutland!
In 2014, unfortunately, 5R(04) failed to return to Rutland after his migration. After weeks of anxious waiting, we came to realise, as did Maya that he was not going to come back. Ospreys face many challenges on migration, so sadly, we won't ever know what happened. With plenty of unpaired males in the area, Maya paired up with male 28(10) and did actually lay three eggs. But the nest suffered persistent intrusions from 33(11), and as a result, 28(10) was chased off and 33(11) took over the nest, kicking the eggs out in the process. After a while 33(11) and Maya did form a bond, but it was too late in the season for them to breed.
As we see Maya every day on the live webcam, we have come to know her very well as an individual. All Ospreys have unique, distinguishing characteristics, and Maya can easily be identified by the distinct markings on her head and face, in particular the brown cross that is visible on the back of her head. She has now raised 31 chicks since she first bred in 2010 and has provided us with a fabulous insight into the lives of breeding Ospreys.
33(11) fledged from one of the offsite nests in 2011 and his parents are male 03(97) and an unringed female. 33(11) was the only chick to fledge from that nest that year, so he did not have to compete for food, consequently becoming a strong, healthy juvenile and adult.
33(11) returned to Rutland for the first time as a two-year-old on 11th May 2013. He was first spotted in Manton Bay, by Project Officer Paul Stammers and volunteer Mick Lewin, then later was seen back at his natal nest, Site B. In 2014, he returned on 13th April and immediately began pestering Maya and 28(10) in Manton Bay. He did not give up until he chased 28(10) away and claimed the nest.
In 2015, both Maya and 33(11) returned to Manton Bay and bred successfully, raising three chicks, two of which have returned. 33(11) appears to enjoy spending time on the nest, more so than other males and will quite often take over incubation duties. Since 2016, they have raised an additional 17 chicks, including a record breaking four chicks in 2019 and 2020!
A brief history of the nest
(info from Karen)
The nest was first occupied by White 08(97) and Green 5N(04) in 2007 who raised 2 chicks.
In 2008 they paired again but the nest failed and in 2009 it was unused.
In 2010 a new pair, Green 5R(04) and an unringed female nicknamed Mrs 5R, took up residence and over the next four years raised 11 chicks.
Green 5R(04) failed to return in 2014 and Mrs 5R paired with a new mate, Blue 28(10) and laid 3 eggs.
Blue 33(11) arrived determined to claim this nest and evicted Blue 28(10).
Blue 33(11) kicked out the eggs and spent the remainder of the season bonding with Mrs 5R who was then officially named “Mayaâ€.
Since 2015, Maya and Blue 33(11) have returned reuniting their partnership and to date have successfully raised 23 chicks.
Maya & Blue 33(11) Arrival Dates
| Year | Maya | Blue 33(11) |
| 2015 | Apr 6 | Apr 6 |
| 2016 | Mar 21 | Mar 27 |
| 2017 | Mar 22 | Mar 22 |
| 2018 | Mar 12 | Mar 14 |
| 2019 | Mar 14 | Mar 23 |
| 2020 | Mar 16 | Mar 16 |
| 2021 | Mar 19 | Mar 19 |
| 2022 | Mar 15 | Mar 21 |
| 2023 | Mar 19 | Mar 16 |
| 2024 | Mar 12 | Mar 13 |
Manton Bay Nest Breeding Stats - 2007 - Present
| Year | Male | Female | Chicks |
| 2007 | White 08(97) | Green 5N(04) | White YK(F), White YP(M) |
| 2008 | White 08(97) | Green 5N(04) | Nest Failed |
| 2009 | Unused | ||
| 2010 | Green 5R(04) | Unringed/Mrs 5R | Blue 29(F), Blue 30(M), Blue 31(M) |
| 2011 | Green 5R(04) | Unringed/Mrs 5R | Blue 22(M), Blue 32(M), Blue 52(M) |
| 2012 | Green 5R(04) | Unringed/Mrs 5R | Blue 8F(M), Blue 9F(M) |
| 2013 | Green 5R(04) | Unringed/Mrs 5R | Blue 1J(M), Blue 2J(F), Blue 3J(F) |
| 2014 | Blue 28(10) Blue 33(11) | Unringed/Mrs 5R Maya | Eggs kicked out by Blue 33(11) |
| 2015 | Blue 33(11) | Maya | Blue S1(M), Blue S2(M), Blue S3(F) |
| 2016 | Blue 33(11) | Maya | Blue T6(F), Blue T7(F), Blue T8(M) |
| 2017 | Blue 33(11) | Maya | Blue 2AM(M), Blue 2AN(F) |
| 2018 | Blue 33(11) | Maya | Blue 3AU(M), Blue 3AW(F) |
| 2019 | Blue 33(11) | Maya | Blue 054(F), Blue 055(M), Blue 056(M), Blue 057(F) |
| 2020 | Blue 33(11) | Maya | Blue 080(M), Blue 081(M), Blue 082(M), Blue 083(M) |
| 2021 | Blue 33(11) | Maya | Blue 096(M), Blue 095(F) |
| 2022 | Blue 33(11) | Maya | Blue 1H1(F), Blue 1H2(F), Blue 1H3 (F) |
| 2023 | Blue 33(11) | Maya | Blue 3H3(F), Blue 3H4(M), Blue 3H5(F) |