wait for it...

The last chick ponders her world. 

She sits bravely on the very edge of the nest.

 She can see her sibling way off in the distance on their favorite landing post near the foot bridge.

The bees are really annoying. 

They like her fish as much as she does.

Maybe it's time to leave the nest.

So finally she did.

She spent some of her day on our roof and some of her day on the nest.

I'm not sure she is convinced this is such a good idea.

The next day all three chicks were on the nest in the darkness of the early morning

 with Artie watching over them on the branch.

This family is amazing, I'm in awe of them.

one more time

The third chick is alone looking out towards the bay.

And now I am too.

But I didn't have too far to look.

I found the two fledglings up in our trees that face the bay.

Another very proud osprey chick.

Congratulations, you made it!

They are such a happy welcome sight.

They spent the rest of the day flying around the neighborhood.

While our last little chick waited for them to come back.

It happened!

It was bound to happen, chick #1 fledged in the early morning hours

 and left his siblings to feather together without him.

After running outside frantically looking in the surrounding trees I found him!

What a perfect first landing so close to the nest and nice and flat.

He took tiny flights between the two chimneys gaining confidence in himself.

He tested his wings all morning, trying out different landing options.

I think he liked his new view of the bay on this overcast grey day.

This was his best perch.

And here he is back at the nest after flying all over the neighborhood. He's in the middle.

Look at that face!

Chick #2 fledged the next day, more about that tomorrow.

the kids

They are learning that the world might be more interesting than their own nest.

They are always together now, wing to wing.

I know that one will leave the others soon.

He's almost ready, not sure that I am....

won't be long

The chicks are getting to be as big as Nellie and Artie.

I think they will be fledging soon so a good meal is needed for the strengthening of their wings.

(Don't worry that you only see two chicks, the other one has finished eating)

ready for a nap

Nellie has a dilemma. Artie has dropped off the fish on the other side of the nest.

She has to figure out how to get from here to there without stepping on her chicks, or knocking one of them out of the nest. 

Straddling does not work but levitating might help.

So with one giant leap up and over she goes.

And lands precariously on the edge while the siblings turns themselves around to face her.

This is no easy task for any of them.

Nellie is a miracle worker.

Hopefully there is a nap involved soon.

Family time

Artie just brought in a fish, he's on the right. 

Nellie is on the left in the back doing what she does best, 

yelling at someone in the neighborhood.

One of the chicks is testing his wings.

Dad is leaving, I don't blame him

Now Nellie is once again alone with the chicks,

who have piled into a feathery mess.

They aren't listening to a word she says...

But finally she settles them down. 

a neighborhood dispute

Our resident Great Blue Heron was being dive bombed by our osprey, Artie

So she left her quiet place and hid in the grasses along the shoreline.

However Artie persisted in traumatizing the heron.

Back and forth, over and over, Artie flew into her.

There were no winners as far as I could tell.

Artie eventually went back to the nest to check on his family.

And the Great Blue Heron stayed in the nook.

A stand off.

A scramble

Wait... this might be quite beautiful, but I better move quickly as this won't last long.

I'm barefoot and racing down the hill with my iPhone to capture it.

Yes it is fabulous but I'm not capturing what I want yet.

Remember I'm barefoot and notice that it's low tide and the clamshells and mussels are sharp.

So down to the shoreline I hobble and feel the bugs devouring me.

But the reflection on the water is just what I hoped for and the geese gliding by was a bonus.

A day in the life

Life in the nest can become quite chaotic.

Especially when the chicks start testing their wings.

And whack Nellie in the face.

Or when the poop flies

when mom's not looking 

And lands all over Magnificent Nellie's wings.

oops!