Growing in an Osprey's garden.

She is so cute Margaret...but I hope she doesn't grow up too fast!

Great to be easily able to see the chick now & know that there wasn't one to be kicked out of the nest.

Marg, your pic's are getting better & better if that's possible.

Holy cow, Marggie! What are they feeding that big baby? LOL I cannot believe how much it has grown in just a couple of days. I guess we need to start picking out names ;o) I wonder if we should all pitch in a little money and buy it something nice for the nursery. hahahaha

duc, it looks like the little one is already starting to get darker and look more reptilian.

Kim, that's not a bad idea about pitching in a little money for the nursery. I have heard that all Ospreys love Moet & Chandon. Send it on over and I'll make sure they get it.

The greenery is still obscuring things, but less so. These shots are from yesterday (Thursday) afternoon.

This only shows the back of the chicks head, but I think it is such a sweet picture of the three of them. Dad had brought Big Hook a fish. She gave the chick a feed and then had a snack herself. He had gone onto his favourite branch and when she'd finished eating, he flew down to the nest and took the uneaten portion of the fish away with him. He is on the left with the fish in his beak just before flying off.

Edited to swap talons for beak.

This message was edited Oct 9, 2009 12:20 PM

Big Hook went off for a bath. She came back looking very, very wet.

I've had to lighten the shadows under the left wing, but here she is flying around.

Here's Big Hook flying up to the nest after she'd dried herself and preened for about half an hour. Dad was on an upright branch in a tree right near the nest keeping a lookout for anything that may pose a threat to the little one.

Edited for typo.

This message was edited Oct 9, 2009 11:09 AM

I have to add this last one for now.

I love your pictures. They are so clear and brings out so much details in the bird.

2 bottles of Moet & Chandon on the way. One for the parents and one for the picture taker ;o))

Great photos, Mags. I really like the one with all 3 on the nest.

This message was edited Oct 8, 2009 11:21 PM

Thank you Burn. The lighting in the late afternoon is just perfect.

Thanks, Kim. They'll appreciate it. So will I.

Margaret,Thank you for being such a wonderful photographer.

Oh ......I just love that group shot!! An 8x10 please....LOL

All great shots as always Margaret and the family shot is a real heart warmer!

Margaret, yes, I can see the color changing already, thanks to your clear photos. I love the group photo too and the after bath of Big Hook is just beautiful. They're all incredible!

Thank you all for your ongoing enthusiasm. We've had some very dull and drizzly days and haven' been able to capture anything of the chick, although it could be seen moving about. This afternoon was again overcast with a bit of drizzle, but every now and then the light would improve enough to get some shots.

Here's the first shot of the chick with its mother. It has grown noticeably each time I see it.

It must have already been fed not long before I arrived at the nest as it wasn't acting hungry and Big Hook was quiet.

Gazing up at Mum

There's something intriguing about birds tongues.

Big Hook gazing down at the little one.

This isn't very clear, but Big Hook ever so gently preened her chick for a few seconds.

Dad must have been on the branch of the dead tree next to the nest (obscured from my sight) as Big Hook went off for five minutes and returned sopping wet. She went onto one of the nest branches to preen and dry off.

Something was disturbing her.

You guessed correctly. The Willie Wagtail.

It soared and dived, chattering angrily all the while.

Of course, Dad and Old Ma Osprey were used to these fearless little birds harassing them and I've seen the Willie's doing this to Big Hook over the last few days, but I wonder if it's a new experience for her.

It was all over her.

Pest. This type of behaviour is generally indicates that the Will Wagtails have a nest nearby.

And that's it for this mevening. Big Hook flew back to the nest and the Willie Wagtail flew straight up the embankment towards me and landed a couple of feet away with a self-satisfied smirk on its face as if to say "There, did you see what I just did"?

This message was edited Oct 12, 2009 7:32 PM

Here's one for Methodical, with thanks. Uncropped and taken with the extender. I'm going to enjoy using it when the light is really good. It fluctuated between very dull and barely passable today.

Extraordinary photos Margaret!! They're so sharp that it feels like I'm right there enjoying the raptors just as you are.

Interesting about the Wagtails having that nest nearby. Is it nesting time there? I was watching a Bald Eagle fly by our home yesterday and the Crows were diving at it the same way. They usually do this in the spring when they're nesting and have pretty much left the eagles alone when they're flying by.

Great shots Margaret! The shots of Mum and little one are so sweet!

You can tell she really loves that baby!

Really awesome shots Margaret...almost like we were seeing it in person. The Willy Wagtail is such a hoot!! I just love that shot of Big Hook and the chick beak to beak...so sweet!

Those pics of mum and babe make all fuzzy!

Ha, that little bugger is still around.:) Brave little thing though. Love that shot of Mom preening baby.

Thanks, duc and yes, it's Spring here, although it's hard to believe it. Lucky you, having Bald Eagles flying past your home.

Rose, Pelle, Nanny, Burn and Kim, it really is touching to see them interacting with the chick and the chick becoming aware that the parents are more than just a food source. For purely selfish reasons, it's also good to see that their garden is wilting more each day.

"Don't lie, little Jimmy! Don't you know that all little boys who lie grow up to become meteorologists"? So much for the bureau's forecast for fine weather today. It's freezing cold and overcast. Will have to see what it's like this afternoon. When I have more pix to post, I'll start a new thread.

Freezing cold! You don't know freezing cold! :-) in fact, it is exactly freezing cold here this morning. 32 degrees F.


Yes, I'm glad that stuff in the nest is wilting. It would have made a nice back drop, but we really want to see the cutie in the nest.

32? It is 65 here! See, you need to come to plant swap this weekend and get warm. lol