Maya the long-returning Rutland osprey has claimed her Manton Bay Nest, ready for the 2026 breeding season.

The Rutland Osprey are not given names so we do not project human traits on to the bird but the important exception to this rule is local celebrity, Maya.

Maya has been at Rutland Water since 2009 and is the most successful breeding female in the project, having raised more than 40 chicks to date.

An unknown female Osprey landed on the Manton Bay nest on 22 March, causing the Rutland Osprey Project Team to scramble to identify her by digging into their archives.

With their powerful high-resolution camera, they were able to identify the number on the ring round her ankle, identifying her as a female that has been visiting Rutland since 2009.

However, the female osprey's choice to land on the Manton Bay nest was shortly undermined by the arrival of male 33(11), who is usually the breeding partner of the regular Manton Nest female Maya.

At 2.30pm on 24 March, Maya made her first appearance of the year, landing on the nest, greeted by 33(11).

Three is a crowd and Maya soon sent the other female packing, not after making a few more attempts to claim the nest before getting the message clearly.

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READ MORE: Rutland Ospreys celebrate 30th anniversary

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