Whopper, the fledgling Osprey, spreads her wings.

She is a stunning bird.....great job Pete & Margaret on your photos!

Thanks, folks. No, I'm sure Dad is still around. Because of the heat, they're spending a lot of time in the trees down near the water. We often hear them more than see them.

Margaret: Thank you for all the effort and dedication you have shown in bringing us such a wonderful glimpse into the lives of one Osprey family. May you and your family enjoy a happy and prosperous 2011.

Thanks elageo and I return you good wishes for the new year.

I love the sharpness and color that is brought out in your shots Pete and Margaret. Thanks for sharing the life of the Osprey family with us.

Margaret and Pete, you've brought in the New Year there right? We're still hours away.

thanks, Burn. It's a pleasure to be able to share their lives with people from so far away.

Lily_love, yes, it's approaching midday on New Years Day - and it's a warm one.

Down in the trees by the water. Does that mean it is cooler there (shade), or are they bathing lots. Or both?

No, it's cooler down there. Even when the sun in the morning peeps over the hill, there's likely to be a breeze which is cooled as it travels over the water.

Great shots Margaret and Pete!! Enjoyed everyone of them!

Those last two are just fabulous!

Thanks, Burd and Wild_Rose.

Whopper is now three months old. I'm not aware that she has caught fish for herself yet, but this could be happening. The trees have grown so much that there's no chance of seeing what is going on a water level.

I grossly underexposed this shot and have tried to recover it in Elements, but the birds colour is a bit too reddish, even though I didn't adjust the colour. Anyway, that's Whopper flying down to the nest.

Wow, good job. looks perfectly exposed. and great catch.

Yes, stunning shot regardless!!

Great shot Margaret!

Cool!

I agree, it looks perfectly exposed Margaret. Just spectacular!

Thanks, all. I always tend to underexpose to avoid blowing out the whites, but came unstuck with this one. Looking at the whites on my screen, there's not a lot of detail.

It was too hot to go anywhere yesterday except in, under or on the water, so I chose the latter and took my kayak to the river. I saw one juvenile osprey halfway between "our" nest and the other one where the male was released. I am sure it must have been one of the two juveniles from the other nest. It has a very distinct point in its breast pattern, which Whopper doesn't have. See the photo. I think our mob might have spent the day at the beach.

Oops

Excellent photos, Margaret. Please take care in that kayak. Thank goodness you are on the west coast. The east coast sure has had punishing rains.

Pete, I'm quite impressed with your last two "heavily cropped" photos. I'll take those anytime.

Thanks for your concern, Charlie. It was like a millpond. The only disturbance on the water was from passing speedboats.

Yes, Queensland is virtually awash. The long term implications, even after the floodwaters eventually subside, are a great concern.

Kool shot from the Kayak!! Are those Jellyfish to the right? Agree with Linth...glad your on the west coast.

Well spotted, Burd. In parts it was like jellyfish soup.

Here's a shot of the nest from below.

It looks like it, Resin. Here are a couple of links.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/lake-eyre-filling-up-fast-thanks-to-queensland-floods/story-e6frea83-1225981280089

http://www.lakeeyreyc.com/Status/latest.html

http://www.lakeeyrebasin.org.au/archive/pages/page03.html

It would be an amazing time to visit - but scorching hot there at this time of year, with temperatures frequently at or above 50C.

I haven't looked to see what's happening with the Murray River, which is a river in big trouble.

I went to the nest today for the first time in more than a week. We've been having some fairly warm weather and there was little likelihood of any ospreys being on or around the nest. Whopper arrived on the nest after it had gone into shadow late this afternoon and periodically called to Big Hook, who cruised by above and below a couple of times. There was no fish delivery. Because I haven't been there, I have no idea if Whopper has caught a fish for herself. We're expecting yet another hot day tomorrow, but I might go down there late when the nest is lit by the sun for about 15 minutes.

The floods in Queensland continue to wreak havoc and devastation. Ten people are confirmed dead and at this stage, 78 people are missing. They had an hour's news bulletin solely on the floods this evening. The damage is incomprehensible. The rain continues and it is expected that it will continue down the east coast and extend as far south as Tasmania and as far west as South Australia. There is a prediction that five of the six states will be hit by flooding rains. Here in the west, we continue in drought with some loser maniac lighting fires and destroying thousands of hectares of native bushland and properties.

Yeah, heard about the Toowoomba Tsunami here too, sounds awful - pic below from BBC News website. At least it'll fill the Darling & Murray Rivers.

Resin

Yes we just received photos from the cousins,in Queensland ,unbelievable.also looked at your links Margaret

This message was edited Jan 11, 2011 9:51 AM

It's so awful. I've said to DH that if I dare complain about the heat, he can give me a good slap. A few hot days compared to what Queensland is experiencing pales into insignificance. (He's eagerly awaiting my first groans about how hot it is).

Where in Queensland are your cousins, Tamara? I have friends in Bundaberg and have no idea how they've fared.

Jindalee,Rockhampton

I was watching on the news...that just seems so unreal.....They said the water is heading to Brisbane next and they have started evacuations there. I would be terrified.

Would be nice if your drought condtions would be relieved over in the west. Mother Nature does indeed work in mysterious ways.......

My heart breaks to have heard of the news of natural disaster (in Aussie) as well as those that are not natural (here in the western US). Praying for restoration and healing. It's good to see your posting Margaret.

So dry there..water is always wanted but mother nature decides how you get it. Hoping for less fatalities and that this all calms down soon. Like they said though an explosion of life will be coming to that lake.

We had some concerns about Dad Osprey. No-one had seen him for about three weeks. However, he's safe and well and was eating a fish on his usual branch outside Madame X's a couple of days ago.

I've not seen Whopper with a fish that she has caught for herself and was wondering if this had happened but simply hadn't been observed. I went to the nest yesterday afternoon and she spent a fair amount of time calling for food, but none was forthcoming whilst I was there. When I downloaded the shots this morning, I couldn't figure out what the bluish thing was in front of her. Closer inspection shows it to be a dried out Blowfish, which she must have caught for herself, but just like Aussie and Harmony before her, found it to be unpalatable and abandoned it. So we know she's trying to catch her own food and it's just a matter of time before she arrives with something edible.

The nest was in full shadow. I've really, really cropped this shot in the hope that you'll be able to see the fish, which is kind of draped over a twig in front of her with its tail towards the camera.

Nice shot Margaret! Glad to here Dad has been spotted and good to hear that Whopper is fishing!

That is a nice shot Margaret!

Thanks, Burd. It sure was a relief to hear that Dad had been positively sighted.

Thanks, Pelle. Photogenic subject.

Are the blowfish easier to catch for some reason?

Probably because there are so many of them, they are easy targets because they are slow moving and they inhabit the really shallow areas likely to be easier for a young osprey just learning how to fish.

Another shot from yesterday before the nest was engulfed in shadow.