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Bird and Nature PhotographyBritish Columbia, Canada |
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| Photo Blog 2009-06-28 The Bald Eagle chicks are hardly chicks anymore and as large as the adults.
The Osprey chicks are now more visible above the top of the nest.
After watching for a while from a couple of different vantage points I was able to determine that there are three chicks in the nest.
While watching the Osprey I got a call from my wife in regards to a voicemail at home from an acquaintance that a Sandhill Crane chick had hatched at the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary. As there was time to get there before closing I packed up my gear and headed off to Reifel. This was about the third attempt at nesting for the Sandhill Crane pair at Reifel this season. It has been several years since the last successful one. The location they used for nesting was quite some distance from any of the trails out in the southwest pond. While still OK for viewing, it was pretty far off for photographing. The chick was easily visible and there was another egg in the nest the female was tending to.
The chick was fairly active wandering around the little island the nest was one to the delight of the few present and watching which happened to include David Suzuki.
The chick even ended up in the water a few times.
| Home | 2009-06-21 Today I was able to get my first glimpses of the Osprey chicks. You can just see the tops of their heads while being fed.
Here the female lost her balance while feeding the chicks.
From watching her behaviour you could see she was feeding chicks in different spots in the nest indicating there is more than one.
| Home | 2009-06-17 The Mute Swan and cygnets were still around the far river bank near the Osprey nest.
Chicks have finally arrived at the Osprey nest, but are still too small to see. Here you can see the female feeding them while the male looks on.
The Bald Eagle chicks on the other hand continue to grow like crazy.
| Home | 2009-06-10 While watching the Osprey nest today a Mute Swan pair and cygnets were swimming along the far side of the river bank.
Getting back to the Osprey, no new arrivals yet but while I had the camera set up to capture activity coming and going from the nest there was some other interesting events. Another Osprey showed up and came right into the nest area. The female on the nest reared up to ward off this unwanted visitor.
About 45 minutes later it came back while the male was on the nest (the female was off eating a fish he had brought in for her). He left the nest to challenge and chase the intruder off.
At this point it looks like the visitor likely has a face full of talons.
While the male was in hot pursuit, the female returned to the nest. Once all was said and done, the male perched on one of the old snags he regularly uses overlooking the nest.
There are more photos of this interaction in the Osprey Nest Photo Series 2. While I have seen the Osprey pair routinely chase Eagles out of the area, this is the first time I have seen another Osprey in the area. | Home | 2009-06-07 While watching the Bald Eagle nest the last few days a couple of other photo opportunities came up. One bird related the other not. Eurasian Collared-Dove numbers have been increasing in this area over the last few years. They are nesting in a couple of areas in Delta that I am aware of, the general area of the Eagle nest being one.
The bushes in front of where I set up also get busy with insects. I was watching a Cabbage White Butterfly moving amongst the flowers and tried to get some shots. Then it went to the same flower a Honey Bee was on, bonus two species on the same flower. To top it off a second Honey Bee came in and I managed to get it in flight over the other two already on the flower.
It was a fun way to pass the time while the Eagles were napping. When the Eagle chicks were up and about and stretching you can see how the primary feathers are developing.
Cedar Waxwings still abound and I am always watching for interesting poses or activity.
The Hummingbirds successfully fledged and were gone from the nest on 2009-06-04. Mother Nature was smiling on me yesterday when I found and managed a few photos of one fledgling.
Even happier when mom showed up to feed it.
I have taken one print of the Hummingbirds out to Reifel already. I am also working on a series of prints documenting the growth of the chicks they can use in the museum for educational purposes. A way for me to give a little back to a place I frequent and enjoy so much. There is still no change at the Osprey nest.
Hopefully there should be some new arrivals soon. | Home | Previous Photo Blogs | 2010-01
| 2010-02 | |
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© Jim Martin |
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