Manton Bay Osprey Nest Update

Manton Bay Osprey Nest Update

Peter Cairns/2020VISION

The latest news from the Manton Bay nest.

All four chicks have been doing well this past week, and over the last couple of days the oldest two chicks have become much more mobile, have started stretching their wings, and are beginning to replace their downy plumage with beautiful golden-brown pinfeathers. When the chicks are about a month old, they will have achieved between 70% and 80% of their total body weight, thanks to a plentiful supply of fish. It is amazing how quickly they grow!

On the menu this week there has been even more Roach, and 33(11) has started to bring more Pike back to the nest. Roach can be identified by their fairly deep, silvery bodies and by their dark red coloured fins. They are a smaller fish species but can still reach nearly 0.5 m in length! Pike on the other hand are distinguishable by their length – they can grow up to 1.5 m long - and by their olive-green back and flanks, which are covered with creamy blotches.

We have also had the odd intruder in the Bay, which have been promptly been chased off by either Maya or 33(11). We do regularly see other Ospreys having a peek at the Manton Bay nest and other nest sites similarly will have other individuals visit too.

Watch the highlights below of the past week...