OSPREYS! The new season is underway.

Gorgeous shot!!

Great shot of the couple Margaret.

Dad and Big Hook look great Margaret! and yes I wish I had a squillion dollars also.. or just a gazillion. lol

I went to the nest four days ago. I heard Whopper, although didn't see her. Dad and Big Hook were busy at the nest a couple of times whilst I was there. Of course, when the nest was lit by the most exquisite light, they were both off somewhere, but as sure as eggs, as soon as the nest was in full shadow, there was activity. I've played around with this image to extract some detail. Not good, but you'll get the idea. They were very vocal.

There wasn't a breath of wind and the occasional boat passing by made the most beautiful patterns in the water. I love this for the water, rather than for Big Hook on Dad's favourite branch below the nest.

Wing wave.

Last one for now. Gorgeous Big Hook.

It may be possible to go to the nest tomorrow afternoon, but we're actually expecting several days of rain. I'll go if it's not raining at 4pm, which gives a narrow window of opportunity for beautiful light, I'll head off down there.

Oh, BTW, we don't mention the football to Madame X

What's terrific photos of the lovely couple Margaret! Football? Ummm just say hi to Madame X for us from the US. lol

Such a stunning beauty.... If Big Hook only knew how much we all admire her!

Gorgeous shots Margaret!

Great shot Margaret - I see another saga is on its way - wonder how this series will end.

Aww so nice, to see activity again, lovely photos.

Great pics makes me think I'm looking at N G magazine you are just as good as they are thanks again.

LEW

great photos Margaret,love them

Thanks, everyone for your lovely comments.

LEW, I'm flattered that you think they're that good.

Rian, I also wonder what this season will bring. Lets hope it's drama-free and they hatch and raise more than one chick.

I did go to the nest late this afternoon as the weather was simply gorgeous. Once again, I heard Whopper in the trees below Madame X's place, but didn't see her. Usually the offspring are well and truly gone by April or May and here we are, towards the end of July and she's still here. It will be interesting to see just how long she stays or is tolerated. The nest is not left unattended for long and although there was no mating during the hour that I was there, Dad did do a couple of flamboyant fly-pasts with a fish before he presented it to Big Hook, who took it from him as if she'd been starved for weeks. The light was exquisite. Just a couple of shots to share with you. It's inconsiderate of these ospreys to focus on the nest as they're about to land, rather than gaze at the camera and give eye contact and a smile. this is Big Hook.

It has just started raining and they're predicting storms tomorrow (yikes) and rain for the next few days, but I'll go to the nest if there are breaks between showers and hopefully will catch up with Pete (Unsteady).

Darling Dad at the rear, having just dropped the fish off to Big Hook.

It's really interesting, Kim, that Whopper is still around. I think we can assume, with a good degree of accuracy that it is her (If she is indeed a female - hope that makes sense). In two weeks time, she will be 10 months old.

I had a look at the other nest today to see if there was any activity. I didn't have my binoculars, but could see an osprey perched near the nest at the top of the Norfolk Island Pine (this is the nest where the male who was close to death had been successfully rehabilitated and released several months ago and the female rejected him upon his return). I'll keep an eye out to what's happening there. I have no idea if the bird I saw today was male or female.

Mags, the pix are stunning! I am very excited about this years adventures!

So am I....... Nice capture of the mating ritual, which signal the start of the new nesting. yippee! Love, love, the one of gorgeous Big Hook standing on the tip of the branch with wings spread out!

Your photos couldn't get any sharper Margaret-they're all just breathtaking. Wow!

Wonderful pictures Margaret!

Great Shots margaret,been thinking about you during our Heat wave 97 and heat index 107...Holy Moly ...its hot

Thanks, everyone. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.

I went to the nest yesterday afternoon for the first time in a week, due to the weather. Both birds are busy reconstructing the nest and they are really making up for the mistakes made last year, when they barely bothered with a nest cup, which had tragic results. The nest cup is so deep, that each bird almost vanishes into it when they're making adjustments.

I don't know how these shots will post. I'm trying something a bit different as some of my photos recently have resulted in the bird's dark feathers looking far too cinnamon coloured. The blue background is the river, not the sky.

Big Hook surrounded by material for the nest cup.

With a beakful.

Dad had flow by with a Black Bream and took it to his favourite branch below the nest, where he ate most of the head before taking it to her on the nest.

Big Hook flies off with the fish and Dad remains to take up duties on the nest.

Dad with a beak full of nesting material.

Deciding where he'll put it.

Last one for today. Big Hook took the fish down to Dad's branch to eat it. It's a truly ghastly end for the fish.

Wonderful series of pictures. The nest looks like it will be very cozy .

Great shots! They really did learn from last year...I am sooo glad. Poor fish...we will say it was already dead when Dad got it ;o)

Thanks, BeaHive.

Yes, Kim, I have to keep reminding myself that these Ospreys are doing what Ospreys have done for millions of years and unlike man, don't kill for pleasure. They only kill as an immediate source of food. (But I still find it difficult to watch).

I just discovered I hadn't posted this one of Dad watching a hawk fly overhead.

Great shots Margaret - you cab really see the attentive look on dad's face with the hawk.

Thanks, Rian. They never go after hawks, they just keep a close watch on their passage.

Wonderful pictures Margaret. These birds continue to amaze me. Just fantastic. Love the shot of Dad deciding where to put the beak full of nesting material and Mom eating the fish. Glad the nest is being built nice and deep this year.

I'd say ditto to GG as well. Fab. pics. Margaret.

So wonderful Margaret! Like the clear eyes of dad watching the Hawk. Happy to see the nest being build more secure too.

Wow, look at that light!