rainy day in the garden

It's raining and chilly and pretty miserable out there.

 

The songbirds are really wet

and apparently very hungry.

The lineup in the garden tree was long.

While they waited their turn at the feeders.

Very orderly bunch, even the squirrels and chipmunks took turns underneath the feeder. 

All of this happening while I looked on dressed in boots and rain gear. 

Tully never heard me leave the studio and she missed out on all the action.

Patience

I was in my car and and starting down the driveway when I saw her. 

So of course I ran into the house and got my camera.

She was still there watching me.

I think she was saying goodbye.

This is Patience, the third and last chick to fledge and to leave the area.

She had no interest in going and I don't blame her.

She had been seen flying with her fish most days. 

But now the skies are empty of her.

She has taken wing and left me here to imagine what her life is like now.

She is on her way to South America where she will stay for the next few years,

One day I hope she makes it back to Oyster Bay

 where I might meet her own new family. 

In the meantime her parents will return to the same nest outside my window next year

 and this will start all over again.

Thank you for teaching me all about you dear Patience, I'll miss you.

 

BALD EAGLE!

I walked through the hall of our house and noticed something in the tree right outside our window.

I ran to get my binoculars, I knew who it was but wouldn't let myself believe it.

It's funny how birds and wildlife can send shivers through me.

So there he was and I grabbed my big lens and shot through the window.

Then I very carefully and quietly opened the door 

and while he continued to eat his fish I managed to get some more images of him. 

My heart was racing trying to make sure I had the right speed to handhold my 500mm prime lens 

while also maintaining  the correct exposure. 

The lighting was terrible but the thrill was fabulous!

 

transitions

My favorite time of year is now, when the world changes in front of my eyes.

When the new and the old mix together to float along leisurely.

Knowing they will all collect together and renew their original bonds

 under the trees along the banks of the river. 

Creating new harmonies as they float downstream.

Getting lost in the fading light.

Where they will change and become unrecognizable 

while they nourish the next generation of trees.

 

Out and about

The ospreys are out and about flying amongst the trees and over the bay.

 They have not left us yet. But soon they will be gone.

But in the meantime this great blue heron has landed on the nest.

Only to fly off to join the great egrets who spend their days in the trees.

Sometimes there are as many as thirteen!

They look especially beautiful against the dark woods.

I especially love to try to capture them in flight from my kayak.

 

They will be gone soon too.

I'm going to miss these birds who are such a joy to watch. 

incoming

A birds eye view

with downey feathers flying in the air

and great anticipation of something yummy from dad.

 

where have I been?

 

You won't find my camera here but you'll see my continued 

love of all things bird and color.

I've been painting and cutting and pasting and just plain having fun.

I have very little confidence in what I do when I sit at this painting table.

It's been a study on being vulnerable for sure.

I'm learning to let go and have fun and forget about outcome. 

I just lied, I do still care about the outcome.

So I continue to try and try again....

However on the other side of the studio lives my confidence and my heart. 

This I can do and I can do it well.

The difference for me now is that when I sit on the rock by the river 

I see a photograph and I see a painting.

One of these I can do.... the other not so much...

It's time for me to go back to the other side of the studio and play some more.

Checking in

The chicks are free and flying, they are learning how to be ospreys. 

I love to watch them swoop and dive on the air currents, they seem to be having so much fun.

The best is watching the whole family flying together, the old teaching the young.

In this image Artie has brought in a fish for the chicks who have landed in the nest looking for dinner.

He is a vision to these hungry chicks.

Look at his wing span, we are all in awe of Artie.

The chicks are beautiful fliers now but catching their own fish is a work in progress. 

I believe that most of their fish is provided by mom and dad. The chicks come to the empty nest and cry to be fed, while other times I hear them in the trees calling out to be fed.

The parents are busy providing drop off delivery to their littles.

This little one enjoyed his fish in our tree right in front of the house.

His sibling also had a take out delivery.

And this chick had to figure out how to eat his fish on a very small pole.

Which apparently wasn't easy!

They are very healthy and such a joy for us to watch 

as they get stronger and more adept at being ospreys.

 So for now I chase around the outdoors with my binoculars and look to the skies.

I know my time is running out for me to be where they are....

 

 

A little Chick drama

Chick #3 has a fish and chick#2 would like to have it.

So chick #2 sneaks around the side and attempts the coo.

But chick #3 mantles the fish, see how she huddles over it with her wings out.

The two have a face off.

This is getting exciting.

But peace prevails and chick #3 keeps her fish rightsChick #2 will have to wait his turn which is not easy for these hungry chicks. They did survive our crazy storm where the winds pulled down trees and left so many of us without electricity. All three chicks have been in and out of the nest and the parents have been busy keeping them fed. Phew

tiny feathers

Taking a "little feathered friend" break with this ruby throated hummingbird in our garden.

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.