Thanks to everyone who stopped by at the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair. Nice to know people are actually reading the blog. My next show is the Capital Arts Fest, September 24 & 25 in Concord, NH.
Yesterday, I got a chance to check up on the Eastons. The chicks are now eight weeks old and seem to be doing well. They’re big – nearly as big as their parents. Their feathers have grown in and their bills have elongated. They’re diving and foraging for themselves, but still expect their parents to feed them. They’re getting independent, for much of the morning the family was spread out over something like a third of a mile.
Other bird families have fledged their chicks as well. There have been kingbirds around all season, I haven’t been able to decide if we have two or three pairs. When I visited yesterday, there were something like 15 kingfishers out and about, making me suspect we had three nests.
The morning started out with a beaver swimming by the family. The chicks were curious and swam to intercept the beaver. The beaver passed just a couple feet in front of them before circling back and slapping. Both parents rapidly arrived on scene. The parents keep a good eye out under water as the family retreated. Their path took them close to this branch sticking out of the water. Both chicks explored it and found things to eat, probably insects or larvae. Mom was serving up delicate little morsels while dad went off to forage. When dad returned, he brought back this larger fish, the first of several fish he’d serve up throughout the morning. The chicks have mastered the handoff, I didn’t see them fumble with any food offered. Note the size of the chick. Dad also brought home several crayfish. A pair of osprey have been regular visitors all season. They were joined by at least one, probably two (maybe even three) chicks. They appeared one at a time, but very shortly after this one headed out of sight, a second one appeared. Osprey will often hover over the pond to let them watch for fish below. This one hovered a few seconds before diving. The dive took the osprey completely under water, before it resurfaced. Success! He’s nabbed what looks like a catfish. The loons pretty much ignore the osprey while they’re overhead. Dad continued feeding the chicks. This looks like a white sucker for the next course. Another fish being handed off. With their feathers grown in, the chicks need to do a lot of preening. Lots of contortions are required to maintain all those hard to reach places. The chicks are practicing adulting. They made a few runs over the water learning how to take off. Their wings aren’t yet strong enough to lift them, but soon…. I thought this chick was attempting a takeoff. As he opened up the range, I lowered the camera. He promptly dove and came up doing the penguin dance – a skill he’s going to need to take or defend a territory. Coming towards the end of his run wing rowing, he made a sharp right turn. After practicing the penguin dance, a wing stretch was required. Not to be outdone, the sibling gave a nice stretch. As I headed home for the morning, I passed several great blue herons, the pair on the pond must have raised a good brood.
I’ll get out to check on our other families as promptly as I can, stay tuned!
This post has some of my favorite subjects. Kingfisher, osprey, loons and herons. Thank you for these and the text you include. I do not get to see Loons very often so watching – via your photos – this family is fantastic.
Thanks so much for your photos. They are beautiful. I feel like I’m there.
Fabulous! A joy to read and learn from.
This post has some of my favorite subjects. Kingfisher, osprey, loons and herons. Thank you for these and the text you include. I do not get to see Loons very often so watching – via your photos – this family is fantastic.
Terrific images and text, Ian. Thanks.
Wonderful as always!!! Learn something new every Blog!
Incredible pictures! And it’s so fun to get to see these little daily and important moments in the lives of these beautiful creatures:)