Osprey season 2010 - A new beginning.

I do hope that baby will move over to a safer place in the nest. I'll be thinking good thoughts. Fantastic photo Margaret.

oh my he is a Brazen,lil bugger,Invisable force shield is now up....

He/she needs a little parachute.

It's alarming, isn't it? It will become even more so when it really starts exercising its wings. We know what happened with Harmony last year. I have a contingency plan in place in case the worst happens and it falls long before it can fly. I hope you're up for it, Pete. LOL.

I didn't go to the nest yesterday, but will hopefully be able to get there this afternoon. Another shot from the other day with the chick watching its mother trying to build up the nest. "Too late", she cried.

Gosh Iam holding my breath..

Things are nice and peaceful at the nest. The chick's rate of growth is incredible, especially if two or three days pass between visits. Here are a few shots from this afternoon. I was viewing from above to begin with. The chick is now five weeks old and is gaining strength in its legs.

I still haven't seen this one hunker down. There were jet skis whizzing by right under the nest along with the usual yachts and water skiers. This one is completely unphased by it all. Here' it's looking at something passing overhead.

This shows the difference in eye colour between the chick and Big Hook.

I very gracefully descended the embankment to take some shots from there. Big Hook feeding the chick

....

Exercising its wings.

Last one for tonight. Another burst of exercise. The flight feathers are emerging through the waxy sheaths.

Great shots ,Love the diffenece in eye color shot.Boy there is no chicken in that chick..

Why does it seem like each year they grow up faster???

Snoopy may be a name consideration!! lol

Precious shot showing the eye color difference.

It's certainly no shrinking violet, is it, Tamara

Nanny, I've been thinking exactly the same about the rate of growth being faster each year. That first year, with Aussie, things seemed to progress so slowly and yet when I compared Aussie and Harmony, they were at exactly the same stage at the same time and I'm sure the same will apply to this one.

Well sadly we all know the Older we get, the faster Time Flies,sad but soo very true,kind of weird too...Does not feel like it has been 5 weeks...

Wonderful pic's again Margaret. The chick is growing fast!

This message was edited Nov 7, 2010 4:22 PM

Wow, that chick sure is growing! It's great to see your wonderful photography and the changes as the young one grows from the featherless look into the adult features. That is a neat shot seeing the difference in their eye color. l love the first shot of it exercising it's wings and it looks like mama is telling her child to be careful, or maybe she's saying "Your father will be home shortly with dinner so don't you get any ideas about going anywhere."

Great series Margaret, the chicks is beautiful with the flapping wings.
I'm throwing in a name too, how about Braveheart .Nothing seems to make him nervous. be it below or above or standing so close to the edge. ( Ah the age of pure innocence).;))

Burn, or minds must think alike, except I was thinking Valiant...maybe even Prince Valiant ;o)

Or Princess Valient if it turns out that way.

Beautiful shots Margaret!! I like Victor or Victoria since were throwing names in..lol.....this one has won the right to life.

Gorgeous photos Margaret!

The chick looks so happy and healthy.

Perhaps that Chick is from New Zealand, seeing as how it is so daredevilish.

Wonderful photos of the chick! The wings are getting so large. Great photos once again!!

Have been following your threads and admiring your wonderful pics for a while Margaret but have only just got round to posting. My compliments, they are absolutely stunning. This beautiful chick is growing so fast...as they do.

So the chick grows apace. Maybe it is time to guess fledging dates. I will guess about 23rd November.

Margaret, Such wonderful photos of your Osprey family. You are a great photographer and show us so much. The Osprey are long gone from this area. There are several pole nests in driving distance so I can see them in season../

Donna

Thanks, everyone. Yes it is good to see the chick looking so healthy and contented. LOL, Mrs Ed. Yes, New Zealanders are the dare-devils of the planet. They have adrenaline sprinkles on their breakfast cereal.

Welcome Daisy. I'm glad you've posted and that you've enjoyed the stories.

Tiger, Osprey chicks can fledge anywhere between 48 and 76 days. With no rush to migrate, I think ours tend to take their time.

Donna, it must be strange to see the platforms vacated for months at a time. I continue to go to "our" nest every couple of weeks, knowing it will be unoccupied, but the Ospreys will only be a couple of hundred metres away.

Like everyone who follows the Loch of the Lowes, I'm waiting to see if the old female returns this year. Big celebration if she does.

Yesterday I spent an hour at the nest. By the time the lighting is reaching perfection, the shadow covers the nest and it remains so for the rest of the day. As summer approaches, hopefully that will improve. This first shot is of Dad keeping watch over the chick which is now 40 or 41 days old. Everything was very peaceful. The well camouflaged chick is lying right of centre.

After about 20 minutes, Dad flew up to the branch.

The peace was shattered when Big Hook arrived. I think this shot shows the size difference quite well.

She politely asks him to go fishing.

If it wasn't for the tongue and eye, it would be very hard to see the chick in the nest.

Heavily cropped, but how sweet is this chick.

amazing the size diffence between dad and big hook..Cant hardly believe the chick is hunkered down, seems like its always up and about,giving us a scare !!!!

Suddenly, Big Hook gave her alarm call and stared in my general direction. I couldn't figure out what she was carrying on about until two strangers appeared, climbing the embankment just below me. I had absolutely no idea they were there. Both Pete and I are convinced that they know the regulars and this was one more example to back that up. She stared at them like this until they left.

Yes, she's a big girl, Tamara and a feisty one, too.

Thanks for the usual great pictures Margaret. Wow, that chick is really growing! Love Big Hook's stare!!

Now that is a stare of concern,you can see it,like Whoo are You...Great shot

Good to know that Big Hook is looking out for you! Nice personal security.