22 December 2023
Good Morning Everyone,
You would not think it was the end of December in Winnipeg. The weather is so warm that people are pulling off their sweaters under their winter jackets in favour of t-shirts. Or, at least, that was the case at the nature centre today at noon. I began to wonder if the young people were going to do some winter tanning the sun was so intense!
There is a very large wasp nest right in the middle of the photograph.
The toboggan (or sled) run that will be used once the ice gets thick enough on the lake.
Dear friends of mine are spending their holidays in Paris and today, I was sent a photograph of Cormorants sunning themselves in one of Paris’s canals. Richard Holden is a Canadian photographer who is researching the history of the Irish Famine and its images. It is so nice of him to allow me to share his image with all of you.
Richard comments, ” They’re in the canal just across from our place, and seem to love getting up on those yellow bollards. They even get into little fights to see who gets which one!”
What fun! Thank you, Richard.
At Port Lincoln, Bradley flew to a perch at 07:07. Nice one, Bradley! And then he flew over to the ropes. Some might want to call the first flight ‘branching’ if they are used to eagles, but clearly the flight to the ropes was a fledge – a first flight.
HeidiMc got all of Brad’s flying on video and check out the music – Brad is the conductor!
This was the observation board before I turned the lights out. That flying energised Brad to go after that fish!
Port Lincoln’s Ervie has been moving about. Ervie is 2 years old plus. Like Calypso, both male, and both have stayed within the vicinity of Port Lincoln. Let’s see what Brad and Gil do.
‘A’ brings us news from the Parramatta River – exciting news: “
December 22: A fine day again. Early morning, SE31 was flying back and forth, then at 7:07am our observer saw her catch a fish. She flew to a branch with it, but may have dropped it on landing, as she was seen empty-taloned nearby shortly after. Two ospreys were seen circling over the boat ramp nearby around 8am. One of the adults flew in with prey at 8:31 with the ospreys following. Prey was delivered to our juvenile and both disappeared into the mangroves. SE31 was then seen eating on the ground at Mangrove Island. No further reports during the day, though both adults were seen at Goat Island, both with a fish. Our juvenile was seen on her home patch, flying over the bay, her usual roost places, then off over the wetlands towards Homebush Bay it seems. A day of firsts. Then she appeared again over the river and was in the mangroves at the end of the day. A sunset photo of their patch from yesterday.”
At Captiva, Ruby and Jack have been working on the nest and mating over Thursday.
At the nest of Clive and Connie at Captiva, the two eaglets are still bobbing their heads! Soon, those necks will be strong and their eyes will focus clearly. Clive is keeping the pantry full of a variety of prey for the family. How many times will I say it? Clive is a great provider.
‘A’ reports: Meanwhile, there were 11 feedings today at Captiva, with little CE10 and CE11 both eating well and Clive keeping the pantry extremely well stocked with a nice variety of food items. This pair really are an experienced pair of parents. So far, there has been little bonking – I do hope we get a pair of males on this nest, laidback and fraternal.”
Lady Hawk has all of the 11 meals on one video.
What a guy! M15 brings in dinner for two.
For those wondering about the egg at NE Florida, here is a great explanation by the AEF.
Images of Gabby today. I live in hope that this will work out.
Beau delivers moss but not a fish…The second egg is due today.
I have not spent much time checking on Anna and Louis because of what is happening at the nest of Alex and the late Andria. F1 has been rather amazing. I totally agree. She is protective and a fierce defender of the nest. Keep thinking how lucky Alex was that she came along right after Andria’s death and is such or seems to be an acceptable mate to him.
Alex on the eggs Thursday night.
Annie and Lou were at The Campanile celebrating the solstice together.
Thursday at Barnegat Light:
The view from Tom and Audrey’s nest on Chesapeake Bay on Solstice.
The view from Swoop and Harriet’s nest at Dunrovin. Can you tell I am really missing the ospreys?
Monty and Hartley are feeling happy!
Quarries turned into havens for nature?
If you missed it, the Red List of Birds in the UK gives us a glimmer of hope for 2023.
Humans are cruel. Please note the wish list for Seaside. Remember these things are needed at every wildlife rehabilitation clinic!
This fall’s ‘State of the Everglades’ report if you are interested.
They are scattered about my neighbourhood thanks to Dyson and her growing legacy. Do you have any dreys near you?
Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ’A, H’, Richard Holden, PLO, Bart M, Lucille Powell, Judy Harrington, Window to Wildlife, Lady Hawk, AEF, NEFL-AEF, Kelleigh Lynn, KNF-E3, SK Hideaways, Wildlife Conservation Foundation of NJ, Explore.org, Dunrovin Ranch, BirdLife International, Diane Lambertson, BirdLife International, Audubon, and Birds in Helping Hands.
As Always I enjoy reading the daily rundown of what’s going on in the world of our feathered friends. I’m definitely looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Beau burying the egg while Gabby was away from the nest today.
Oh, I have so many! Too many bouncing around in my head. There are many males that struggle with what to do with the egg or the chick. Several of us have been thinking about Tom and Angel’s nest – and I was recalling the feeding of the egg at San Jose City Hall. V3 isn’t the first male to bury an egg. Did he do it by accident? or was it deliberate because he thought it belonged to another male? Gosh, we will never know. My first instinct was that he buried it because he did not think it was his, but then today, when he was down around the egg aerating according to the AEF with Gabby calling out – it seemed as if she was telling him to leave it alone! So maybe it was an accident. Wish we could read their minds!