Bird Watching: Osprey season 2011. So far, three chicks doing well., 1 by MargaretK

MargaretK wrote:
Time for an update. The three chicks continue to do well and Big Hook is excelling as a mother. She's lost all of the clumsiness and impatience she displayed during the two previous seasons. Dad, is of course, as beautiful as ever, although he had me worried the day before yesterday when he wasn't sighted for over two and a half hours - he's fine.

Pete and I were positioned near a big eucalyptus tree towards the top of the embankment - the one that has the bee hive in its base. Bees were buzzing all around, but we were not that close to the hive that they became aggressive. After feeding the chicks, Big Hook flew off and was gone more than two minutes, leaving the nest unattended. She returned absolutely drenched and had obviously had a lovely bath. She flapped her wings and fluffed herself up and shook herself like a dog that had just emerged from the water.