Growing in an Osprey's garden.

Spectacular photos Margaret!! I'd guess you were correct in thinking Old Ma Osprey got her eye injury during the courting. It's no wonder the way those talons spread out.

Did I miss your location when you're taking these photos? I'm guessing you're on a hill overlooking the nest? All of the nests around here are so high that we wouldn't be able to get these amazing photos.

Thanks duc. Yes, I've been fortunate enough to have been given access to elevated property by some very generous people.

I didn't get to the nest yesterday as it was bucketing down. Here are some more shots from July during nest reconstruction.

Dad arriving with a branch as Big Hook looks on.

She's very impressed with that offering and starts to head down to the nest to give directions on how it should be placed.

There are some ritualistic behaviours associated with stick delivery.

I didn't observe Big Hook rejecting any sticks. The mysterious Madam X said that when he used to bring sticks to Old Ma Osprey, she would often taken them from him and then contemptuously discard them to the river below.

"Now, just put it over here, love"

And where would we be without a visit from a Willie Wagtail. This was back in July as well.

I haven't seen the Willie Wagtails doing any swooping on the Ospreys yet. I imagine that will start when and if they have their own nest/babies nearby. This one just dropped in for a visit.

The sun was still very much still in the northern sky in July and because the nest is viewed east/west, there were often heavy shadows across the birds. Here's Dad and Big Hook mating.

Last one for now. Big Hook with a fish. I hope to get some shots of the chick this afternoon.

Pretty amazing behavior contrast, compare to Old Ma. It will be interesting to see, what will occur in the next few weeks, with their relationship, after the baby(ies), start to be demanding.
Love their garden!!!

Excellent & educational pictures, Margaret. I am really enjoying them.

This just gets better with each addition...something to really look forward to. I am so glad that you can give an account of the difference between Dear Old Ma and Big Hook, so very interesting. Thanks for the great thread Margaret..I'm loving it!!

Old Ma was just a cranky gal I think!!! Glad Big Hook is more pleasant...just for dad's sake!

I think Old Ma's crankiness was related to the pain she must have been in with that eye along with increasing hunger.

Well, I thought Big Hook was a very placid girl until yesterday. When I got to the nest she was making a racket and was very restless. My first thought was that something may have happened to the chick (don't worry, it hadn't). Dad appeared with a headless fish and brought it to her and she flew off with it. She was in the process of returning to one of the branches when she dropped it into the river below. She made no attempt to retrieve it and she and Dad remained on the nest together, with her doing lots of pacing around. Then a couple of Ravens flew by, not close, but obviously close enough to perturb her and she took off after them. There was no way I could catch this action as they were wheeling all over the place. I looked back to the nest and there were Big Hook and Dad on the nest, but there was still an Osprey in hot pursuit of the Ravens.

I've suspected for many weeks that Aussie is still around. I've seen a third Osprey sitting in a dead tree that Aussie and Old Ma Osprey used to sit in at the end of the bay, beyond the reach of my lens. There'll never be any way of being certain, but I wondered if this third Osprey was Aussie. After it finished chasing the Ravens, it went into the same tree at the end of the bay.

Anyway, Big Hook continued to be noisy and restless and flew down into the bay. A poor Cormorant was flying by and just happened to be in her path and she knocked it into the river with a might splash. I saw the Cormorant resurface and seemed to be OK. Big Hook didn't appear to be on a fishing trip and this brief flight down to the water was just part of her general level of agitation. I've not seen her being irritated with Dad at all and yes, it is heartening to see them living so harmoniously.

This shot is of who I suspect might be Aussie from less than two weeks ago.

I've not cropped this shot at all and have included it to indicate how distant the end of the bay is and this shot was taken with the 400mm lens. You may hopefully be able to see an Osprey (trust me) in the dead tree.

Same shot, cropped. It was a pretty big fish it had.

Did the chick get fed before she flew off with the fish, Margaret?

This is one of a few shots I did manage during the raven pursuit.

No GP, she didn't. Good point. From what I observed last year, Old Ma would always feed Aussie as soon as Dad brought the fish to her. I hope you've had a lovely birthday

This is Big Hook coming in for a landing after she'd dropped the fish. You may just be able to make out the chick if you follow a line straight down from the base of Dad's beak.

I think the chick is a little more visible in this one, but not by much.

Sorry about how long it's taking to upload. I've exceeded my monthly allowance and have been slowed to snail pace.

I hope you can make it out behind all the shrubbery. I'll be back at the nest this afternoon. Lets hope it will be more tranquil than yesterday.

Fantastic and spectacular come to mind when I see all these photos. Great job Margaret.

Another great series on the Osprey.

Wonderful pics!!! I see the little one,in you last shot, mouth wide open, so cute.

Thanks for you comments. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

As a protective measure, when either parent arrives at the nest now that there's a tiny little chick there, they come in with bunched claws. This is Dad from yesterday.

From this afternoon. Big Hook was again a bit restless, leaving the nest a few times and returning to one of the branches, then flying off and returning to the nest.

......

Dad was on one of the branches below the nest. Big Hook was periodically noisy, but she makes a very distinct sound when she wants him to head off to catch a fish. It's loud and insistent and each time she makes this particular call, he heads off over to the other side of the bay. Today he was gone less than ten minutes before he returned with a live fish.

Big Hook had a feed herself before feeding the little one. I noticed that Old Ma Osprey would do similarly when brought a live fish. There is no sign of a second or third chick.

Another shot of the chick, just visible behind the greenery.

Darling little thing.

This is Dad arriving with the fish.

After she'd had a feed herself and then fed the chick, Dad arrived back on the nest and took the remainder of the fish over to his favourite branch, where he proceeded to eat it at leisure. The chick could be seen watching him as he left.

When Big Hook had settled back onto the nest, a small flock of Corellas flew past. They almost stopped in mid-flight, turned around and circled over the nest four times before continuing on their merry way. There was absolutely no doubt whatsoever that they were have a sticky beak.

That's it for this evening. I hope you've enjoyed it.

Good morning Margaret,Iam loving this thread ,cant wait to go watch the bald eagles this winter !!! we had a great visit with the cousins.Now we need to save for our trip to Australia.

Hi Tamara. I'm glad the visit went well. How good if you could visit Australia. I'd love to see Bald Eagles. Where do you go to watch them?

Margaret,Its only an hour drive south of us,we have 2 man made resivoirs just south of us,thats where they hang out , This will be our first time going to watch them,our dear friends go every year,they are taking us this winter,i need to read up on the area,and the bald eagle.I will find out a bit more ,and pass it on to you.Something to look forward to this drab winter!! Going back to work today,boo hoo,had the whole month of september off.

Have a look at linthicum's threads from last winter, Tamara. He spent a fair amount of time at the Conowingo dam and has some fabulous photos of Bald Eagles. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/919395/

Fabulous shots Margaret...as usual!

Thanks, Nanny. I appreciate it.

Fantastic shots, Margaret. I really like the last one with the fish. I sure wish Spring was in the air here. I'm not looking forward to the cold winter months. I think I need to migrate, also.

Hope you have a great Osprey season.