Growing in an Osprey's Garden #6

Harmony taking food, but almost as if obliged to, rather than because of hunger.

Birds have remarkably flexible necks.

Wooo weee, I am so glad that harmony did not live up to the first 4 letters in her name!!!!! These birds just do not realize that they really should tell us what their plans are! Well, I gave Eliza Ducklittle a cell phone, so I guess, we should give harmony one ;o)) Superb shots everyone.

Kim, it was nerve-wracking. The image of that little bird falling head first from the nest is etched in my mind forever.

Big Hook flew off after she'd finished eating most of the fish herself. I'd anticipated her returning to the pole branch, but missed the arrival as I was distracted by a Willie Wagtail. When she's is on a branch, she spends a lot of time contemplating her navel.

Or enjoying a head massage.

Whatever it was she could see, I couldn't. The lighting is utterly beautiful at this time of the evening, just on 5pm, but unfortunately the shadow creeps rapidly up the pole branch and the nest is pretty much still in shadow at that time. As the sun moves even further to the west over the next week, the lighting will remain ideal for longer.

Thanks for link Denis, and the camera I use does not have a RAW setting, hoping by spring to upgrade.
Nice shots Margaret! Sorry about your Hawk huggergirl, don't worry another will take its place eventually. The person who hit the Hawk may change now as a result of his actions.

Huggergirl, so sorry to hear about your hawk. Mother nature can be cruel sometimes.

Margaret, your photos are gorgeous. I don't think I'd every get tired of sitting and watching these birds.

Lovely photos Margaret!!! Glad everything was calm while you where there.

Well, Harmony obviously so enjoyed her time away from the nest, that it is spending more time absent from it. Madame X very kindly thought she'd alert me to its absence from the nest before I headed off there two afternoons ago to have a heart attack when I discovered that it wasn't there. I was then able to get some closer shots of the chick and Big Hook in trees at her place.

Here the chick sits calmly and comfortably on one of the branches.

#2

A water bomber passed overhead.

Here it is looking directly at me. It's a shame both eyes weren't lit by the sun.

Big Hook arrived and sat for some time on Dad's favourite branch where she could keep an eye on her chick.

This message was edited Dec 5, 2009 2:09 PM

and on me.

Cropped shot of Big Hook. Neither she nor Harmony were concerned about me aiming the camera at them. I wasn't even going to take my camera with me for fear of scaring them off. I'm so glad I did and I took more shots in a single session than I've ever taken before. 622 to be precise. Dad has been coming to his branch for a few years now and is used to people there. I thought that because both Big Hook and Harmony were relatively new and completely new to this area that they might be spooked, but they weren't and it confirms just how comfortable they are with human presence.

Another of Big Hook.

Harmony turned around on the branch several times, but stayed in the one spot. I thought she was going to take off with this burst of wing exercise, but she waited a little longer before doing so.

It was very sure footed and comfortable preening in what was quite a stiff sea breeze.

We didn't see Dad at all. Big Hook came and went a few times, including onto this tree quite a way below a couple of times. It seemed a rather odd place to go as the tree is almost vertical. Osprey Tree Creeper.

Well, we'll bow out as we've reached the tail end of this thread.

I'll start a new one if there's anything to post from this afternoon.

Beautiful photos Margaret! They are so comfortable with you there. It shows in each of the photos you take. Love that last "moon shot". Can't wait to see more of these beautiful birds.

Janet

Beautiful Margaret all of them, the cropped pic's are awesome too! There's that tell tale (Tail End) again, I love it. lol

Wonderful shots Margaret! Their all such handsome birds!

sweet !!! so hard to beleive how fast Harmony has grown,just amazing,thank you for doing what you do so well Margaret !!!!! Tamara

My what a big bird we are!! LOL

I know how happy you had to be to get an opportunity for great candid shots in a new setting...And they are beautiful!

Mags, those are some of the best shots ever!!!! Harmony is grown! I want her to regrow her fuzz, return to the nest and lets watch her grow up all over again.

Wow, I'm gone for a bit and look what happens ... Harmony gets his wings and is really looking like a proper adult Osprey. Way to go Harmony, you are a beauty!

I was out of town for a week and have been fighting an awful cold this past week, so I'm just now catching up on the goings on of the Perth Osprey family. How scary when the kid fell out of the nest! I think lots of folks reading this story were holding their breath on that one! I guess immature birds are just like human young'uns ... very clumsy at times. I'm really glad Harmony was okay.

Margaret, I hope this won't be the end of your story about the Osprey family, I'll be watching for a continuation of Big Hook, Dad and Harmony ... and possible extended family. Your threads have been so educational and informative, a real joy to read!

These last photo's are outstanding! The vivid blue sky as backdrop only enhances the true beauty of these birds. That first shot of Harmony sitting on the branch is one of my favorites! And, I love the shot of Big Hook masquerading as a Tree Creeper! I wonder why she landed on the side of the tree like that, did she possibly spot something interesting in the water and wanted to take a quick look? I love the "Tail End" again too ... perfect way to bow out for now!

I will be watching for a new thread but want to say, Thank You for your photo skills, Thank You for your caring of nature, and special Thanks for sharing your "view" with all of us here in the garden!

Oh Yeah! Ditto to that!

ABSOLUTLY perfectly said plantlady !!!

Incredible, stunning, gorgeous, perfect photos! I don't think they could get any clearer.

Thank you Margaret....a wonderful journey..we look forward to the next one.....have a safe and happy Christmas. Dianne

Thank you all for your wonderful comments. They are always very much appreciated. It is also so good to have Denis and Pete contributing and look forward to more posts from these two fine, upstanding gentlemen in the new thread, which is over here:-


http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1061470/

Good Morning Everybody,
I have been away for awhile and missed some of the action on the nest, but Margaret's images tell the story very well.
Over the next day or so I will try to capture some new images of the chick in flight and post them.
This is an image of a leopard I captured in Namibia, recently.
It was late in the evening and the animal was on the hunt and stalking a small dik dik; hence the preying look in the eyes.
A minute later it caught its prey in the dense scrub.
I wish all a Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for continuied good health and good light in 2010.
Denis.

This message was edited Dec 20, 2009 5:08 AM

Good morning Denis. What a phenomenal image! Anyone fortunate enough to travel with yourself, Nick and Nick on the photo tour to Kenya will come away richer from the experience.

Thanks for your comments. We're almost at the end of another thread. How about coming on over and reposting the above there. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1061470/

That is one fantastic image, Denis.