Osprey Mom & Chicks - Week 5 (Oh, How They Grow!)
Jul 13, 2015 20:42:14 #
Well, I went up to check on mom & her chicks. Things started out as usual - not much doing. Mom on the nest with the 3 chicks. Dad in his usual spot watching over his little family. I took a few shots, but nothing special. Then I went looking for my juvie eagle - no luck!
Tide was in at the rookery, so not much there to shoot.
An hour or so later, I made my last pass at the osprey nest before heading home, and there still was not much new to shoot in the nest. Yes, they were getting bigger, but no biggie - or so I thought. I took a few more shots showing that the chicks were actually bigger than they looked all hunkered down in the nest when I first arrived. OK - not a total wasted trip. At least I know the runt is still alive and well.
Mom had started making her noises that usually signal that dad is home with a meal. I didn't see him in his usual spot, so I just started to head back up the road. That's when I saw dad sitting in a tree rather far from the nest. He had a whole fish and was eating it starting with the head. I watched and took some shots for quite a while. Then mom started "yelling" for him to hurry up and bring the blasted fish to the nest. At that point, he had eaten 1/2 of the fish. Smart bird that he is, he flew off and headed toward the nest with the fish. Of course you all know what I did. Yup - backed up the road to the nest. That is when I got the surprise of my life. You'll know it when you see it!
There are 7 shots in this series and they were taken with my D5200 and my Canon SX50. No PP other than slight cropping if needed. It'll take a bit of time to load them and get the captions added.
Enjoy.
BTW - I got some fabulous video of the "you'll know it when you see it". What a display! I expect the other 2 will start soon, too.
Tide was in at the rookery, so not much there to shoot.
An hour or so later, I made my last pass at the osprey nest before heading home, and there still was not much new to shoot in the nest. Yes, they were getting bigger, but no biggie - or so I thought. I took a few more shots showing that the chicks were actually bigger than they looked all hunkered down in the nest when I first arrived. OK - not a total wasted trip. At least I know the runt is still alive and well.
Mom had started making her noises that usually signal that dad is home with a meal. I didn't see him in his usual spot, so I just started to head back up the road. That's when I saw dad sitting in a tree rather far from the nest. He had a whole fish and was eating it starting with the head. I watched and took some shots for quite a while. Then mom started "yelling" for him to hurry up and bring the blasted fish to the nest. At that point, he had eaten 1/2 of the fish. Smart bird that he is, he flew off and headed toward the nest with the fish. Of course you all know what I did. Yup - backed up the road to the nest. That is when I got the surprise of my life. You'll know it when you see it!
There are 7 shots in this series and they were taken with my D5200 and my Canon SX50. No PP other than slight cropping if needed. It'll take a bit of time to load them and get the captions added.
Enjoy.
BTW - I got some fabulous video of the "you'll know it when you see it". What a display! I expect the other 2 will start soon, too.
Perfectly normal. All 3 chicks OK!
Now I can see how big they've gotten. Hard to tell which is the runt!
Feeding time. Mom starts with her favorite as usual. That's the runt all the way on the left and in the front.
No. He is not bullying his sibling (aka "the runt")
Mom looking absolutely exhausted. Is it any wonder with these 3 "babies" to feed and keep out of trouble.
And here's hard-working daddy osprey preparing the meal for his family.
Jul 14, 2015 06:59:00 #
Jul 14, 2015 07:05:56 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
Fantastic series, MMO. Such beautiful birds!
Thanks. Linda. I watched the videos I took on the TV set via our AppleTV gadget. Much better than watching on my iPad. The size of this guy's wings is nothing short of amazing. Last week. there was no testing or flapping going on. Poor mom looks very tired. Can't imagine why. It seems as though the runt is getting enough to eat and grow. Hopefully, all 3 will make it!
Jul 14, 2015 08:03:56 #
Jul 14, 2015 08:55:53 #
What a wonderful set Mike!!!!
It's nice to see the babies growing strong and that your little pee wee made it!!!
I'd say they are just about the size of George & Gracie's two chicks.
...and dad certainly looks like he's getting a "head" of it all!!!!
Thanks for sharing these great shots!
:-D :thumbup: :thumbup:
It's nice to see the babies growing strong and that your little pee wee made it!!!
I'd say they are just about the size of George & Gracie's two chicks.
...and dad certainly looks like he's getting a "head" of it all!!!!
Thanks for sharing these great shots!
:-D :thumbup: :thumbup:
Jul 14, 2015 09:01:29 #
Jul 14, 2015 11:28:11 #
Jul 14, 2015 11:29:20 #
Jul 14, 2015 13:21:42 #
rlaugh wrote:
Great shots again!!
Thanks, Bob. I just realized that there is a device a ways up the post that the nest platform is on put there specifically to keep you and your relatives away from "my" chickies. I'll include an image of it in next week's progress report.
On second thought, I won't. You guys are a lot smarter than you look and I don't want you to go figure out a way to get around it!
Jul 14, 2015 13:24:57 #
angela k wrote:
What a wonderful set Mike!!!!
It's nice to see the babies growing strong and that your little pee wee made it!!!
I'd say they are just about the size of George & Gracie's two chicks.
...and dad certainly looks like he's getting a "head" of it all!!!!
Thanks for sharing these great shots!
:-D :thumbup: :thumbup:
It's nice to see the babies growing strong and that your little pee wee made it!!!
I'd say they are just about the size of George & Gracie's two chicks.
...and dad certainly looks like he's getting a "head" of it all!!!!
Thanks for sharing these great shots!
:-D :thumbup: :thumbup:
Angela, thanks again for looking and commenting. I was abssolutely stunned when I looked up and saw the one chick flapping its wings. The wings spanned the entire width of the nest. It was sitting so high in the nest that I mistakenly thought it was mom who had just taken delivery of the fish from dad. It looked for all the world as though there were 2 adults in the nest. WOW!
Jul 14, 2015 13:26:12 #
phlash46 wrote:
Great series! :thumbup: :thumbup:
Thank you so much for viewing and sharing in the joy and fun of watching these beautiful birds thrive under the care of their 2 very attentive parents.
Jul 14, 2015 13:27:26 #
Jim Carter wrote:
Great series!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks again, Jim, for keeping current with the gang. I'm hoping for another trip up there either tomorrow or Friday and will post anything "new on the nest".
Jul 14, 2015 13:28:45 #
MissStephie wrote:
WOW! what awesome pictures! :thumbup:
Thanks, Stephie. It is even more awesome to be able to see them up close and personal. Keep an eye out for the next installment.
Jul 14, 2015 16:09:22 #
MadMikeOne wrote:
Thanks, Bob. I just realized that there is a device a ways up the post that the nest platform is on put there specifically to keep you and your relatives away from "my" chickies. I'll include an image of it in next week's progress report.
On second thought, I won't. You guys are a lot smarter than you look and I don't want you to go figure out a way to get around it!
On second thought, I won't. You guys are a lot smarter than you look and I don't want you to go figure out a way to get around it!
:thumbup: :thumbup: :roll:
Jul 14, 2015 16:19:55 #
nice set. i checked on my nest yesterday. my little ones are just a bit smaller than yours. gary
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