She stayed in this position for a few seconds after her DH had hightailed it outa there, continuing to berate him. I got the impression that she wasn't aware he had actually gone. The chick was taking it all in. Hmmm, so that's how you treat your mate. Treat 'em mean and keep 'em keen.
It certainly isn't the quality that Linth achieves, but I was reasonably happy with this in flight shot of the male, taken just after leaving the nest and on his way to the branch where he spend the rest of the afternoon.
That's beautiful Margaret!
she finally realized he'd gone and purposefully went to the edge of the nest and continued to berate the male who was by that time on the left hand branch. Little Aussie, buoyed by the drama, did more wing exercising than I seen before.
Thanks Pelle.
A few more shots after dinner.
I can't get over his size! Great pics Margaret!
What has she got against him, Margaret? He seems to be an excellent provider. Does he have a "girlfriend" on the side?
I don't know, GP, but it's as if she's telling him that he can be the fishmonger, but that's where his involvement ends. By the way, GP, you asked yesterday if the chick had shown any signs of feeding itself. Well, today it was having a go at it and in this picture, it's watching Mum, but shortly afterwards, it had a go at a piece of fish. Unfortunately, the clouds didn't permit a decent shot of this and because both of their heads were facing inwards and downwards, there was lots of shadow. It was picking around on several occasions, even doing the head shaking thing to loosen a bit of fish.
Aussie did a bit of plane spotting, whilst Mum returned to the other side of the nest to reproach poor Dad.
I thought the chick was going to join the female on the branch. It came so close to doing so on several occasions in the time I was observing.
And she continued to periodically give him a serve from her high perch.
He studiously ignored her
Here's a wider angle shot. She's up on the right hand branch. He's on the lower left hand one. Aussie is barely discernible in the nest. And yes, it was taken this afternoon. We're having cloudy periods interspersed with bursts of sunshine.
That's it for today.
That is quite funny...you do have to wonder what set her off. But also as a woman married for 35 yrs. I can understand somedays it doesn't take much!! :)
Aussie has a nice wingspan now..wow!
Too Funny! Look how far out he is on that branch. Got as far as he could. What a hoot.
Great family interactions! It seems it won't be long now before the not-so-little Ozzie will be taking off.
I have a feeling the male is being scolded because he is a threat to the young, providing as well as he is she won't take chances. Male cats can kill and eat their own young.
Keep up the good work Margaret, we are enjoying it immensely!
Looked up, fledging period 49-57 days; as the first photo with the chick in this series was 20/10, should be due to fledge in anything from tomorrow to just over a week. Only caution, those fledging figures are based on European populations, I don't know if Australian populations might grow at a different rate.
Resin
awww, i don't what it to go!!!
How long will it stay near the nest once it learns to fly?
That shot of them both watching the aeroplane is simply priceless!
"He studiously ignored her" Ahh that a boy. Just let'm talk and they will eventually tire. It's amazing it even happens in wildlife lives - yap, yap, yap, yap. Just poking.
Question. Why can't the male join the family on the nest?
OMG meth, that is so funny.
Love that last pic, Margaret....we can really see the surroundings and what YOU see. I wonder if little Aussie thinks those planes are big birds? I really hope you are there when he takes off, but I imagine he will remain at the nest for a while even after his first flight.
The expression in you photo is wonderful, I can see what you're saying.
I think she must be a fishwife LOL
Methodical, I don't know why she's not allowing him onto the nest. It may be as Wallaby describes. I'm not any authority on their behaviour.
Knip, I don't know how long the chick will stay on the branch when it finally ventures up there. I was convinced it was going to head up there today, judging by its actions yesterday. I went to the nest twice today and it showed no indication that it would today. I have no idea how long it will be before its first flight after it goes up onto the branch. Fortunately I have time at my disposal at present. I'd be a basket case if I wasn't on leave. I would so not want to be at work with all this going on.
When I went back this afternoon, they'd just finished eating. The female almost in a trance as she cleaned her beak. Aussie watches to see what she's doing all the time. It's like watching a young child absorbing everything like a sponge.
The chick was watching her, but moved its head just before I took the shot.
Well, GP, it was definitely feeding itself this afternoon. That's the chicks head on the left. The females body is obscuring most of the chick.
The chicks claw and talons are visible and it was using its left foot to anchor the food and tugging at the fish. This was some time after the female had finished feeding and had cleaned her beak.
Look Linth, a three legged Osprey.
Look at the size of it against Mum.
I hesitated about posting this one because I thought the composition may be confusing. Another shot where Mum's body is partially obscuring Aussies, but it is him/her that's doing the plane spotting.
That's it for this afternoon. The only shot I kept from this morning was of a dolphin (in the distance).
a three legged Osprey
Hello Margaret, been on for any significant time today as I've had problems with this computer's modem. I can't believe how Aussie has grown! When do you think h/she will be fully fledged?
Lee
Resin, how have you managed to see that? I zoomed right in to the clearest one - I actually took shots of the band today for that express purpose - but couldn't make anything out. Do you want me to send a closely cropped shot?
Lee, I'm not sure. I thought the chick would be branching today, but it didn't happen. I'll go again tomorrow afternoon, weather permitting. Hope your modem problem has been sorted.
Such great shots! Little Aussie has gotten so big and looks very healthy.
I'll be so sad to see him fledge but will be looking forward to the next chick.
These parents have done such a great job as well as Auntie Margaret!
Thanks Pelle. It will be strange, as these fantastic birds have consumed my life since August and I've loved every second of it. The chick often looks directly at me, which evokes a really powerful emotion. Its level of awareness is remarkable. It doesn't miss a thing. I'm so looking forward to the next few days.
I can make out 124 too...any with a magnifying glass?
Well, I can't make anything out. Nanny how are you doing that? I'm off to make an appointment with the optician.
I copied your pic and darkened it with a little sharpening, I think I can see 1243! Hope you don't mind. I can post it if you want! :)
I wonder if the family will stay around while they teach Ozzie to catch fish!
No by all means do, wallaby. I just tried editing the RAW image and although I don't know what I'm doing, it looks like an upside down ....62 at the top of the band with more below it.
Great shots, Marg.
I concur 124...and i believe the next number is 3
Kim
