All three chicks have fledged.

The one with the fish whacks its sibling with its wing. No way is it going to share its fish.

A bit of foot stamping, more squealing and wing flapping is enough to discourage the poacher, who returns to the branch from whence it came.

An hour later, one of the juveniles flew down to a low branch on the pole tree. I very gracefully (not) descended the embankment to get some close shots. This is uncropped at 15'

It was completely at ease with me scrambling back and forwards trying to get into a better position.

Big Hook flew down from the nest to join it. She was about 4' from her kid, but I was way too close to be able to get them both in the frame. I needed to take most of my shots yesterday in the vertical plane because it was too close to fit them horizontally.

Big Hook fluffing up her feathers.

I cropped this one a lot to show a close up of this beautiful bird.

Wow amazing shots Margaret!
The last one of Big Hook is incredible!
Thanks for taking and sharing these with us.

Thanks, Pelle. I've just got back from the nest and again one of the juveniles landed on another of the lower branches of the pole branch and then Big Hook came and landed on top of the pole branch. I haven't even started to download the photos yet. The lighting is just sooooo good at the moment and the temperature is mild, so it's no hardship spending a few hours down there.

Glorious photos, Margaret. The cropped one is such a beautiful portrait..

Fantastic photos Margaret. Love them all so much, cannot even pick a fav. Those kids fighting over the fish is too funny. When Big Hook fluffs her feathers, she fluffs her feathers!! What a shot! The cropped shot is unbelievable. What a gorgeous bird!

Beautiful Lady!

wonderful!

Margaret, I have so enjoyed your amazing photos of the osprey family. Didn't get to see all as I had to have my right hip joint revision done and the Hosp. where my Dr. does the surgery is more than 6 hours away from here inLakewood, WA. and the doctor wants me to stay hear the hosp. for 3 weeks after the surgery. So I stay with my son and daughter-in-law, about an hour from the hosp. The very complicated surgery was done Oct. 24./ My son brought me home Nov. 8, but of course I had to go back for followup appts. I have been walking now for a couple of weeks without the use of walker, so am happy for that. But haven't been able to take pictures yet, snow on the ground now.

elageo, I am 85 years of age and have been bird and wildlife watching most of my life. I feed birds all year, lots of quail, and goldfinches, and other small birds in the winter. I live by myself in the hills of Wash. desert country, so very little water. but anice area anyway. Was born and grew up and lived here all my live. But traveled a lot in my younger days. Bonaventure Island the the Gannets is one of my favorite memories.

Again Margaret, thanks for taking the wonderful photos and sending them along for the rest of us to see. The Osprey have long since left this area for the winter.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all,

Donna

Fantastic shots, Margaret. I, too, really like the last one (the portrait) but they are all really nice images. Take advantage of the light and weather every chance you can. Statistically (for what that's worth), it looks like you have clear days slightly more than 50% of the time this time of the year. I went out today because the weatherman said it would be sunny all morning. A weatherman is what I want to be when I grow up ! I barely saw any sun at all and came home early. Anyway, you have really brought this Osprey family into our living rooms.

rutholive, glad to hear that you are up and about. Just be careful going out in the snow !

Margaret

Once again you have brought us some incredible shots, of our beloved osprey family. Thank you seem such a small way to thank you for bringing this adventure to us.

May your Christmas bring you and your family many blessing.

Jan

I agree, she is stunning, Pirl. It's hard not to get good static shots when the lighting is as good as it has been.

GG, the youngsters are so funny to watch. At about 4pm, Big Hook, or occasionally Dad, will bring a fish to whichever juvenile is on the nest. The nest is in heavy shadow at that time, but re-emerges at about 5pm and is in and out of shadow from then on. Of course, whenever there's action, it's when the nest is shaded. But anyway, after a fish has been delivered, one of the other kids arrives onto the right hand branch. It knows not to intrude on its siblings dinner and will doze and wake to look to see what's happening with the fish. After about half an hour, hunger kicks in and it starts getting mouthy. The one on the nest might look up, probably with a warning look in its eyes and the one on the branch takes the hint and settles down again. Eventually though, it gets too much and the one on the branch half walks-half flies down onto the nest. The outcome depends on how full the one who has the fish is. If it's pretty well satisfied it will relinquish the fish, but if it hasn't finished, no way is it going to share and a minor battle erupts.

She's a feisty girl, nanny. Reminds me of someone. LOL. Yesterday, I was perched near the top of a rock outcrop and Big Hook was on the pole branch, having just delivered a fish to the nest. A couple of Kookaburras had been diving into the dead nasturtiums just below the low path to catch little lizards. I couldn't actually see what happened, but next thing, Big Hook flew down to have a go at the Kookaburra. I couldn't see what happened as there was a huge tree trunk blocking my view, but after she flew back up to the pole branch, I was concerned enough about the Kookaburra to go in search of it, just in case she'd managed to get it. I saw no sign of it and she certainly didn't have it in her talons.

Thanks, Iris. I'm glad you continue to enjoy these beautiful birds.

Hi Donna. I'm so glad the surgery has worked out. You don't need me to tell you to be careful, especially on uneven ground. It's a pleasure to be able to share what I see. Merry Christmas and continued good health.

Thanks, Linth. Lighting is more than half the battle, isn't it? Funny about wanting to be a meteorologist when you grow up. You always impress me as being truthful, though, so I don't know if you'd make the grade. :)

Thanks for your very kind words, Jan.

From yesterday afternoon, here's one of the youngsters on the branch, calling to its sibling who has a fish.

Getting more courageous.

OK, I'm coming in whether you like it or not.

The fact that the one on the nest has its beak closed seems to indicate that it will be a peaceful encounter. If it was going to be otherwise, the one on the nest would be yelling in anticipation.

I was distracted after this, but the there were no sounds of a squabble so presumably the one which flew down managed to get the fish without incident.

Big Hook gazing at people walking on the low path. She gave a couple of brief calls, but then decided they weren't there to do any harm.

Glad the kids did not fight over the fish this time. I cannot get over how gorgeous Big Hook is. Raised a beautiful family too. And, some of those kids are as mouthy as their mother. Wonderful pictures.

All are amazing shots. Happy to see that everything turned out so well. for the chicks and parent this year.

Amazing shots Margaret!
I especially like the second one with the raised foot! Glad their all doing well.

Thank you for the most wonderful photos and write up on Big Hooks Family. May you and yours have a great Xmas and happy new Year

They are a bit mouthy at times, GG. Big Hook really has excelled as a mother. She's lost all of the clumsiness of the two previous seasons.

Thanks, Burn. I'm so pleased with the way things have turned out this year.

I loved that shot, too, Pelle. I still haven't seen all three chicks at the same time. I'll have to ask Madam X if she has.

Thanks, Boots. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family, too. And here's hoping New Zealand has no tragic events in 2012.

"She's a feisty girl, nanny. Reminds me of someone. LOL."

hmmmm......I think that is a compliment!!

Big Hook has certainly earned herself a soft spot in my heart.

Yes, take it as a compliment.

I cannot believe the babies are so big! Very nice shots, Mags! I may have missed it, but have you chosen names?

Sorry to be so late in responding, Kim. The name, Harry, was chosen for the smallest, which is presumably a male. I'm fairly certain that it is Harry who spends most of his time at the nest or on the branches below the pole branch as he's darker than his siblings and even when seen on his own, he looks to be a small bird. The other two spend a lot of their time visiting Madam X.

From Christmas Eve, two juveniles on the nest together. Check out how much smaller Harry (in front) is. They are eating by themselves, but still receive occasional feeds from Big Hook. Big Hook seems to like hanging around with Harry.

And from this afternoon, two juveniles, with Harry in front.

Beautiful shots Margaret. My goodness, I didn't realize Harry was that much smaller than his siblings! Wow!

Beautiful photos Margaret. Harry must really feel outnumbered when he looks up to his sisters. It's so great that this family all managed to get along and survive all the elements.

I thought I should give a bit of an update, although there's really not much to tell. I've seen two juveniles together and have heard a third, so all three are still doing well. Yesterday, I saw the one we call Harry with a fish it had obviously caught - a blowfish. It seems as if the blowfish are like training wheels for young ospreys. The shots I took were irrecoverably dark, but the kid eventually purposefully dropped the blowfish - it was obviously very unpalatable and has skin so tough it is almost impenetrable.

Here's one of the youngsters on the nest, squealing as Big Hook flies in with a large, headless flathead (that's the name of the fish).

Big Hook about to land.

Big Hook flew to the pole branch. I don't want to admit just how many shots I took of her sitting there, bathed in the most beautiful late afternoon light, but it was quite a few. Here are just a couple. She repeatedly stared at something on her leg. Nothing I could see, but I wonder if she may have been spiked by one of the poisonous (to humans) barbs on the flathead's fins.

Half way through a shake.

From a couple of days ago, this is young Harry, who was less than 30' from me. Taken with the 300mm lens.

Thanks for the update & beautiful pictures. I have been curious for days how they have been doing. Happy New Year!