Osprey season 2011. Guess what we've got!

good to see all the 'triplets'. Cheer on the bee eaters.

Good news all around. Margaret, I'm glad that the bees posed no danger to the nest. Dad and Big Hook are absolutely beautiful and capable parents. It's so nice to have news of Whooper being near to 'home'. And boys! Did anyone else notice of the triplets, the youngest one is a 'blond', and the two older siblings are 'burnettes'?

Wow Margaret the chicks look great!!!
Thanks for the wonderful pics!

Great pics showing the chicks!! My goodness, how fast they grow and good to so that at least so far all is going well.

I would be freakin' out with all those bees around. I have had bees just up and sting me and I don't like it one bit! This is the first year I do not have a nest of yellow jackets in the yard. Last year they were right by the water hose....I HATED that! lol

Margaret, that a good response, not to try brushing the bees away. I had Yellow Jacket bees land on me and I didn't move. They never did sting me. But they do become aggressive, when I try to shoo them away. I've also notice that they are very territorial over sugar water, and the Hummers are weary of them. But one brave little hummer went after a bee, after being harrassed by it. It had had enough of it. Never caught it, but manage to get it of it's back. lol
I like, how things are turning out, with the chicks so far. Hoping for a successful year. The little ones are so cute.

Iris, I'm going to the nest each day, as I am compelled to see that all three chicks are doing well. The Bee-eaters sure will have a feast when they arrive in greater numbers.

Kim, it was really good to hear Whopper, exactly a year to the day after she hatched (presuming she was the first hatched last year). Dad has always been a wonderful parent in the time I've been watching them, even when our beloved "Old Ma" was still with us. Big Hook isn't as restless and unsettled as she has been the two previous years, so hopefully, with maturity and experience, her parenting skills will get better and better.

Thanks, Pelle. The chicks really do look good. Even the youngest one is now starting to lose the down on the back of its head.

Nanny, fingers crossed, there has been no sign of any sibling rivalry. So different to last year when we watched as that poor little soul was bullied to death. I've always been scared of bees, because I react badly to their sting. However, my attitude towards them has changed (until the next time I'm stung) and am mostly able to ignore them in close proximity, but I will move away if one persists in buzzing around my head.

Burn, your yellow jackets sound ornery critters and I'd make myself scarce if they were around. Yes, here's hoping that things at the nest continue as they are at present.

I haven't been able to use my 500mm lens as I've hurt my back and the 400mm is my lifting limit. However, the back is on the mend and I should be able to get some closer shots within the next day or two. Here's a shot from yesterday. The "blonde" as Kim put it, is in the middle of the three chicks, which were being fed equally by Big Hook.

Wow! That is going to be a full nest as they proceed to grow!

LOL, Margaret, please pardon the expression of the chicks distinction. The youngin' in the middle, is the reason why its head appears 'blondish' because it hasn't lost its down feather, whereas its two older siblings already have lost theirs?

Kim, no need to apologize. I had a really good laugh when I read it. You have a charming way of putting things.

I've started a new thread. Please join us over here. http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1223795/



This message was edited Oct 5, 2011 9:06 AM