Osprey season 2011. So far, three chicks doing well.

Dark pics or not, the way you capture the chicks growing and share with the rest of the world is amazing! Thank-YOU!!!!

ok what is for dinner, oh fish again, sigh.

Wow their growing so fast! Great shots Margaret!

wonderful ,thanks Margaret,

Time for an update. The three chicks continue to do well and Big Hook is excelling as a mother. She's lost all of the clumsiness and impatience she displayed during the two previous seasons. Dad, is of course, as beautiful as ever, although he had me worried the day before yesterday when he wasn't sighted for over two and a half hours - he's fine.

Pete and I were positioned near a big eucalyptus tree towards the top of the embankment - the one that has the bee hive in its base. Bees were buzzing all around, but we were not that close to the hive that they became aggressive. After feeding the chicks, Big Hook flew off and was gone more than two minutes, leaving the nest unattended. She returned absolutely drenched and had obviously had a lovely bath. She flapped her wings and fluffed herself up and shook herself like a dog that had just emerged from the water.

She flew from the nest branch to the pole branch. Pete and I were having a great time taking photographs of her, when she became focussed on something behind us. Whatever or whoever it was, she didn't like it.

Soon afterwards, a lovely family emerged from the nasturtiums that are covering the embankment at the moment. She mouthed off at them several times before finally flying back to the nest branch. Pete and I discussed how we barely get a glance when we arrive, frequently much closer than this family, and even though we might be wearing caps and sunglasses and lugging camera equipment, nether she nor Dad are perturbed by our presence.

Pete and I had arrived at the nest and neither of us had any idea that the other was there, such is the terrain. I had seen some sibling rivalry for the first time and phoned Pete on his mobile to advise him and a minute later, Pete was calling to me from up by the big tree.

Here are a few shots of the chicks from lower down on the embankment.

The Three Musketeers.

The youngest chick is on the left, but the other two are so similar in size it's really hard to know which is which. I think the dark band running back from their eyes is broader in one than the other.

The one in the middle seems to be the slightly larger of the two bigger chicks. The eldest is now over three weeks old and the youngest is three weeks today (I think).

Here's a shot showing one of the chicks going for the other. It was short-lived and not as savage as we saw last year. I agree with Pete in that it almost seemed as it if was a game.

Just a couple of non-osprey shots to finish with today. Hopefully Pete will be able to post some of the shots he got yesterday.

A dolphin in the bay a couple of days ago. Right way up.

And upside down just below the surface.

Wow! Great shots as usual Margaret. My goodness, how those chicks are growing!! Big Hook sure was staring at that family. Not sure I would like her looking at me that way!! LOL

The dolphin shots are so wonderful too. Thanks for the update on the family. Glad Dad is okay.

They grow so quickly. every day there's an obvious difference.

Whopper is still around.

Wonderful photo's ! It is truely awesome to see nature at its best!

It is truly amazing, isn't it, BeaHive? The sense of wonder never wanes.

Another from yesterday. Look what's between Big Hook's legs.

Just a few quick ones from yesterday. It's a week or so since I've been able to get down and the chicks have grown fast. As Margaret has repeatedly observed there's a lot more inclusiveness this year which bodes well. I've two photos of the feeding - the first I like because it shows the 'smaller' of the three observing from between mums legs waiting it's turn.

In this next one you get an idea of the 'order' in the nest. This is the smaller of the chicks getting it's turn after the other two were more interested in a bit of aggro.

the next is of mum after she'd left the nest alone for about 5 minutes and returned with pa - she'd clearly had a 'wash' as she was dripping wet! This doesn't show that so well but I loved the shape of her wings out to dry.

Here ma is doing a good Rod Stewart impression.

A final offering for now from a couple of weeks ago - I thought the lighting was so wonderful in this shot and the wind was whipping the feathers around. Truly a beautiful lady.......

Pete, they're all absolutely fantastic shots.

Oh my goodness unsteady, these are wonderful pictures. That last shot is spectacular. It really shows the beauty of Big Hook.

It is really is a rare treat to follow along this journey of the babies, before long they will leave their nest, it is sad only because we don't know what will happen to them as they journey out into the world.

Your photos have been breath taking and very inspiring. Thank you both for sharing them with us.

Jan

Fantastic shots Margaret! Pete, I really love the first on there with the small one under mum!!

Such fabulous photos, you two. I love both angles of the chick, between Big hook's legs, that you and Pete took. So glad to see, how Big Hook has progressed in mothering the chicks. Looking good so far, hoping to see all of them fledge successfully.

Margaret and Pete, your photos are all spectacular. This family is so perfect.

Absolutely gorgeous development. I just back and savor the joy this thread has brought to us all. Many thanks once again to Margaret, hiya Pete. Glad to see your posting.

Thanks for your lovely comments, everyone.

Jan, at least our ospreys don't have to face the perils of migration. It's a real pity there's no banding taking place at present. It would be wonderful to be able to keep tabs on their progress.

By the way, Whopper is still around. I've not had any luck locating him in the tree she frequents below Madam X's place so I can get a photo. She never comes near the nest tree any more. I guess that may be pushing her luck a bit.

The three chicks continue to do well. They are now easily told apart, with the oldest one considerably bigger and the smallest - well, small. I don't know how many times a day they're being fed, but non ever seems desperate for food when it's delivered.

Here's Dad, facing into the nest, having just delivered a fish, with Big Hook showing her tail feathers.

After they've eaten, they settle down for a nap. I've included this to show how well camouflaged they are.

After feeding the chicks, Big Hook went off for a bath and returned as saturated as she was the other day. In parts, her feathers are so wet, they look almost black.

Check out who's making his presence felt.


This message was edited Oct 20, 2011 8:19 AM

It was a brief attack by the Willie Wagtail. They must have babies in a nest somewhere below the nest tree.

As nearly always happens, the Willie Wagtail succeeded in chasing the osprey off. Big Hook then flew to the right hand nest branch and then to the pole branch to finish her lengthy preen in peace.

Beautiful ! I love the shot showing how well they are camouflaged in the nest. Willie Wagtail is so funny.

They are really well hidden, aren't they?

Here's a shot of a bedraggled Big Hook on the right hand branch, checking on her babies.

So much fun, to see the Willie Wagtail at it again, this season. They don't care much about size do they? ;)
Big Hook must really enjoy her bath time. She needs time for herself too.

You're right, Burn, size doesn't matter to a Willie Wagtail.

Thanks for the great pictures Margaret. Love the Willie Wagtail. Good heavens, is that nest large enough to house all those chicks the way they are growing!