The “dog stabilizer” on my birding camera works a little bit better now. When I activate the “sit” mode, the camera shake is not as bad as it is otherwise. Just a little softness in the images. One could be fooled to believe it’s the sunrise or sunset light, as that’s when me and my assistant have visited the salt marsh this past week.
The nest is a full fledged nursery right now, with all sides of the crib going high up towards the sky. To prevent premature flight lessons, I’m sure. But all you can see is the nest and mama Sandy. Unless you are lucky to witness fish delivery, which we did one evening, but the camera was sleeping at home. So we have gone to the dog park and after Dylan has played with his friends, I have – occasionally – played with my camera.
And we have spotted a few friends even at these odd hours. Like this Tri-colored Heron. And the baby Snowy Egret who is growing up very nicely, although she’s still tiny.
And we’ve seen the young Great Blue Heron. He was very close to the Osprey nest. Again. And Sandy was watching him carefully. She doesn’t want any surprises.
And Papa Moorhen has been working late every evening. I’m guessing Mama is in the nest looking after two or three small hatchlings. I’m hoping to see them around soon.
Then on Friday morning, I went to see the annual Surf and Sand Festival (next post) and after admiring the sand sculptures, I decided to stop at the nest on my way home. And I was in for a surprise – feeding time!
The hatchling has grown a lot, should be about four weeks old now. Eating with great appetite. I watched and marveled about this little one. And was in for an even bigger surprise – another very tiny head was reaching up asking for food!
Sandy has kept this secret under wraps very successfully! Wow! The latecomer is still very small, I would guess it was born at least a week after the first one. Let’s hope it will be another Sindile (survivor) under Sandy’s and Stanley’s good care.
With these breaking news, I will wish you all a wonderful week ahead.
TINY LESSONS BLOG 
Ohhh, two of them! How wonderful! 🙂
It was a total surprise! I have not seen the other little one even with my binoculars from the terrace. I hope it will make it 🐥
It has great parents. So I’m betting it will.
❤ ❤
Mama Osprey says thank you😘
Your Photos look so clear and colourful Helen. How lovely there is another baby up there or more! Have a great week ahead. ❤️💝💝
Thanks Karen! Dylan has learned to be quite still when I have my camera and stop to look at the birds 😊 I am hoping the tiny chick will make it 💕
Great shots, as always 🙂
Thank you, Leyla!
Happy Days in the marsh! 🙂
Sure are! The second chick was a total surprise 🐥🐣
Great captures! So touching to see how Sandy feed her youngsters… Love this Beautiful post!
Glad you enjoyed the happy news. Sandy is such a good mom and Stanley is fishing three times a day now!
How fabulous, a second hatchling – thank goodness for the new camera, lol!😂
Unfortunately the new camera is still on the living room table – if I touch it, I will not finish my project this month 😉 but the new hatchling was a great surprise!
Work woman, work – I thought that project was done and dusted – the new camera NEEDS you, lol!😂
Oh yes! But I probably need it more, lol! 😀
How exciting! I didn’t know that they could hatch young so far apart. Best wishes to those little guys!
I love this “hot off the press” update Helen!! You have captured it so well. Love the shots and appreciate the anticipation of this post 🐥
Thank you Val! We are happy to see reading the press releases 😀
Oh, I shouted to my man… There are TWO.. He came running, and I proudly showed him!!!!
How must YOU feel, Helen!?! I’m laughing with tears in my eyes. What are you doing to fully grown people, like me… I’m invested up to my eyes.. Thank You for such a wonderful update. And yes, all the images are magical. ❤
Smiling. My hubby also gets exercise when I discover something new in the picture that I didn’t see when taking it. I’m shouting and he’s running to my office. These birds are like kids to me ❤ Thank you so much Carolyn!
Nice pics and good news about the second chick. I’m so glad my browser is allowing me to visit again!
You say Sandy keeps a close eye on the great blue heron. Would it actually try to rob the osprays’ nest?
Happy to see you here Christine! This same youngster, who may be about two years old now, attacked the nest several times last year, but the Osprey parents defended it very well, and the culprit always got his hind feathers ruffled. So when he is around, the Ospreys are on the lookout. They don’t care about any other Blue Heron’s, just this one. They let him be unless he flies right towards the nest.
Exciting, exciting!
It is, it is! Happy you are peeking in 🙂
What a wonderful surprise, I do hope the second chick does as well as the other.
I hope so too…sometimes the older one “takes it all” when there is such a difference in size. But I am keeping my fingers crossed that Sandy does the disciplining and the feeding in a way that makes both chicks thrive.
Wow, what wonderful captures inside the nest of the babies Tiny, your shots,are amazing. I have Osprey envy:-) Those baby feeding shots are soooo good. Thanks for sharing them my dear friend:-)
Thank you Ashley! I was lucky that day to happen to stop there at the feeding time 🙂 Now that I have more time, I will try to see when Stanley comes in with a fish and then run out to witness the feeding.
Exciting times! The last two pictures of the mama feeding her baby are wonderful. And to see that little one in the background, mouth wide open, hoping for a morsel… Thanks for sharing, Tiny. You would make a great nature photographer. 🙂
Thanks for you kind words Barbara. I hope to be lucky soon again to be thee at feeding time. Sandy, like all Osprey moms first feeds the firstborn and then the second one. It’s some kind of instinct that a least one offspring will thrive and survive.
A great composition of the Tri-Coloured Heron, Helen.
That was more luck than skill, Hariod 🙂
Surprise!
That was a real surprise, Nancy! I still don’t understand why the second baby was born so much behind the first one. A mystery, as they are usually born 1-2 days apart.
How precious to see the mother bird feeding her babies!
It was wonderful! I was lucky to stop there at feeding time. Sorry for the late response, I’ve been completely swamped by work until yesterday.
The tri-coloured heron was a lovely composition. The dog stabiliser must have been working well.
Thank you Tom. The dog stabilizer is getting better by the day 🙂
Wonderful shots Tiny.
Thanks Maverick!
Tri-colored Heron. Wow.
That sighting was more luck than anything else 🙂 Thanks David.
Then you are consistently the luckiest girl in Florida
🙂
wonderful images you’ve shared
Happy you liked them Ruth! Sorry for the late response. I was completely swallowed by work until yesterday.
Your photos here are stunning, Tiny. i espec. liked the tri-colored heron. And how very exciting to see new osprey hatchlings. Great post!
Thank you kindly, Jet. That little Heron was like a flower herself 🙂 The Osprey nestlings are growing fast, although it’s puzzling to me why the second one was born so much after the first one.
Jumping up and down. Two of them!!! Two babies! Oh wow!!! How exciting. Good boy, Dylan, for listening to Mom! Good job, Tiny, with the photographs!!! ❤
Yes, two of them! And the little one is growing too. I was so buried by work until yesterday that I didn’t even have the time to come to my blog for more than one week, sorry for the late response, dear Amy. Happy you enjoyed the photos ❤
That’s really great news, Helen. So glad that first one won’t be an only child and will have to learn to share both the food and the attention. Great photos as always. GBH Jr. has a rather sneaky glint in his eye. Hope he behaves himself. 😕
I am happy too that there are two siblings in the Osprey family. And both seem to be growing well. The young Blue Heron seems a bit more “grown up” now, so I am hoping no dirty tricks any more 🙂
Ah!! I have missed so much TIny!! I will be back to catch up….so happy to see the new babies! Hope all is super in your world! ❤
Thank you dear friend! The new babies are growing fast. By the end of the month the older one will be flying 🙂 All is well here now that my work situation has calmed down. I hope you are well too ❤
Thanks Tiny! I can’t believe I have missed so much…but I am present in my heart! Take care dear friend!♡
It never ceases to amaze me how naturally most ‘mothers’ nurture and protect their offspring. Those are fine shots.
Thank you! This bird mama is very skillful in how she brings up her chicks. last year she had three of them.
Incredible photos, I have to say. It was difficult to select my favorite among them, but the second from the top, is my choice.
Thank you Matti! Sometimes my dog Dylan lets me focus properly on our walks 🙂
Wow, the pictures of the mother interacting with her babies are incredible. I have no idea what a dog stabilizer is, but I think that it’s working perfectly. 🙂
🙂 That goes fro me too, Sheryl! Couldn’t have said better. 🙂
Thanks Dina!
Thank you Sheryl. I explained the dog stabilizer in the next post 🙂
Wow, Tiny! I have been away from wordpress for awhile, just now catching up. Your photos are so absolutely fabulous. Can’t wait to read more (BTW – going to Helsinki tomorrow)
Amazing pictures 🙂
Anni & Toby
So happy Sandy has two chicks! What a great secret!! 🙂 Great photos, Helen!
I just hope both of them make it! Thanks Donna 🙂
Every photo wow’s me! So much happens in the marsh. It’s incredible the Eco system! What amazing things you get to see. I am so thankful you share them. Peace be with you Helen! Koko:)