6 December 2023
Good Morning Everyone,
I am writing this with the tiniest ginger kitten wrapped tight in a blanket, snuggled on my chest, purring ever so loud. Hugo is a darling. We could not get him until this evening, and I was astonished at how little and fragile he was. It makes it even more phenomenal how healthy and robust Hope was raised as a feral kitten by Calico.
Hugo has both a loud purr and meow. If he wants something you could hear him half a block away despite his minuscule size. He is actually, if you might imagine, about 750 grams. He is not two pounds but was released to us because he will have 24/7 attention. He wants nothing more than to be held and fed and he finds dangling earrings quite irresistible. So for the rest of his life, he may spend it in a woodblock print sling on my chest with his paws hardly touching the ground. Calico and Hope are curious. Missey is paying no mind – yet – to the new family member. Hugo had the nerve to ‘hiss’ at her!
If I were able to show Hugo to my grandmother and say, “Isn’t he the most beautiful kitten you have ever seen?”, her response would be, “‘He sure is sweet.”
Hugo slept nestled next to me all night. He had a roast chicken breakfast with Missey in the conservatory and is now sleeping in a little felted rock. No problems with the litter box. He has accepted drinking water out of a mug instead of a fountain and I am so hoping that he will begin to thrive.
Send all good energy to us as I try to get this kitten to put on some weight!
We had a visitor in the garden today and he or she had some lunch. Looks like the world’s House Sparrow population declined by one. Isn’t this a beauty?
My son sent me a photo of Snowy Egrets in Grenada. A year ago, I was there searching for them in person. Just look at them perched in the mangroves. One of the hotels has a water feature with a huge tree, and the Snowy Egrets would fly in there at night. I was told it was the Caribbean’s largest colony of Snowy Egrets. These are near the north end of the island.
There is good news at Port Lincoln.
‘H’ sent me a note in case I missed it while I was dealing with Hugo: “Did you see the kids eat, both self feeding? Dad brought a whole fish to the nest, Mum flew off. Dad ate the head then left the fish with the kids. They ate for a long time. Both were doing a good job, and it was very interesting to watch them interact. Mum showed up much later and fed the remainder.”
It was a grand day at Port Lincoln with 2 fish deliveries from Dad, 1 fish from Mum, and the fairy provided a fish. Simply lovely. The trials and tribulations over what to do and when are showing good results from Janet, Fran, and Bazz. When everything is new, it is difficult to figure out what is best…but, as we approach ringing which will take place tomorrow in Australia, things look great. No worries about the parents not stepping up with fish.
I wonder if the mating attempts of any eagle have been watched as closely as those of V3?
V3 and Gabby are making quite the impressive nest.
Lady Hawk caught a more recent mating attempt. He’s trying!!!!!!!!
Dad and the new female were at the ND-LEEF nest on Tuesday. So nice to see them together.
One of the adults, either Hope or Chandler, was at the Port Tobacco Eagle nest as the IR came on Tuesday night.
Blazer and Abby from the Eagle Country nest are getting some serious nest renovations completed.
M15 likes every aspect of being a dad including incubation. Thanks, SK Hideaways.
Well, maybe we might all wish that GHOs were prey items!
Baiba put together some compilation images of Jackie and Shadow waiting for one another.
Pip watch is quickly approaching. Hatch is expected in two days at Superbeaks.
A super article on Osprey success and how some energy companies are working to protect our raptors. Thanks, Sunnie Day for posting this!
Geemeff caught the winter beauty around Louis and Dorcha’s home at Loch Arkaig. So still and peaceful.
The Endangered Species Act is 50 years old this month. This article reflects on its impact.
What a great age and how super to see that this youngster and others like him wanting to protect our sea birds.
Remember. Tomorrow is ringing day at Port Lincoln and it could well be the day we have a pip or hatch at Superbeaks!
Thank you for being with me. Please take care. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘A, Cris, H, J’, PLO, NEFL-AEF, SK Hideaways, Lady Hawk, ND-LEEF, Port Tobacco Eagle Cam, Baiba, Superbeaks, Sunnie Day and the Kansas City District News, Geemeff, The Guardian, and Albatross Lovers.
