Lady Cawcaw is still around. During this busy week I have spotted her eating in the nest at least once every day. I have been hoping she had caught the fish by herself, but now I’m leaning towards it having been supplied by one of her parents. And on Friday I witnessed something rare when observing the nest from my terrace. Mama Sandy was eating her fish in the nest, while Lady Cawcaw was crying to get a piece. Or maybe she was hoping for Papa Stanley to come to her rescue. I thought I could hear “where’s my fish, daddy?” quite clearly.
It’s hard to listen to your baby cry, I know. But Sandy may have taken this drastic measure in an attempt to persuade the little lady to come on fishing trips with her or Stanley. And I think it might finally be working.
While Lady Cawcaw seems to have found a better night perch and has not been spending the nights at the nest anymore, she was there when I arrived at the salt marsh yesterday morning.
She was looking up and I saw Mama Sandy was flying above the marsh.
Although her crop didn’t look empty, she immediately started to ask for fish.
No fish was forthcoming, and after a few minutes she flew away. Supposedly to go fishing, but there is also the probability she went to check on her parents’ whereabouts. I decided to walk around the marsh. It was lively. Lots of Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets around.
And Miss Rosa was there too! She was in the middle of her elaborate beauty routine. I took a 30 second instructional clip so you can learn how it’s done.
Another one of my favorite birds was there too, the Reddish Egret. He was also doing his morning routine. But as soon as he saw me, he made sure I noticed what he was up to: fishing.
He was fun to watch. He always is. And he knows it.
The Tri-colored Heron didn’t make a big number of his hunting. Actually he was just admiring the view for quite a while.
A big junk of my walk was taken up by chasing the Black Skimmer around the marsh. That was fun. He was skimming the surface of the small ponds. As soon as I got him in focus, he was in another pond. Two thousand steps later, this the best picture I got.
I was marveling about the big feet and the colorful red-green “boots”of the little Moorhen …
…when suddenly a familiar face shot up from the bushes. The young Great Blue Heron looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
He decided it was better to move to the other side of the deep water, away from the paparazzo.
He landed right below the Osprey nest, where some Red-winged Blackbirds were looking for food scraps.
Their enjoyment of the Osprey B & B was cut short by the return of Lady Cawcaw. As you can see, she has now mastered the same landing technique as her parents, coming from below and against the breeze.
However, she had not yet mastered how to catch a fish. But now she’d been trying. She shook off the excess water at the nest. Bravo!
I could see Papa Stanley perching high up at the fire station next to the salt marsh. He was wet too. I figured he might have been giving diving lessons to his teen. He might have told her something like this: hover over the water to spot the fish you like, size it carefully so it’s not too big for you, then dive in feet first and your talons stretched out, but don’t dive more than about 3 feet deep! That should do it…shortly.
While I was walking home on the bay side, Stanley passed me, in the air of course. He settled on his favorite spot at the corner of Marriott’s roof and immediately started to scan for fish in the bay. He is a great dad. I wished him Happy Farther’s Day.
Late in the afternoon, I saw that Lady Cawcaw was eating in the nest. I hoped it was a self-caught dinner.
Thank you for coming along. We all wish you a great week.
TINY LESSONS BLOG 
You and your birds are a lot of fun! Thanks Helen. 🙂
It was a fun (and long) walk! So much was happening… 🙂 Thanks Brad.
Those are such pretty blackbirds!
I thought of you this weekend: Finding Dory has a very unique bird who helps in the story this time and the Pixar short before the feature was about Sandpipers. It reminded me of the Osprey Family teaching their young how to get food 🙂
I have to see Dory soon with my granddaughters! These blackbirds are very beautiful and they have such an easy to recognize “song” so I can easily spot them at the salt marsh…surprising that they had dared to go up to the nest 🙂
Let us know what you think of the movie, for sure!
I heard then saw a woodpecker during the last minutes of my lunchbreak today, so birds are on my mind today 😀
Will do! I think birds on your mind is a good thing 🙂
What absolutely glorious captures today. Miss Rosa looks fabulous but I fear she could be competition now with the Reddish Egret – how suave is he?!
Thanks Joanne! There was so much to capture at the marsh yesterday morning. Both Miss Rosa and the “Clown” are good entertainers, and not at all camera shy 🙂
Amazing photos again, Helen. I did laugh at Miss Rosa’s beauty routine. I wish I could look so gorgeous after only 30 seconds and a few splashes of water. Lady Cawcaw is a very demanding teenager already. I hope the tough love treatment is working its magic. Love your capture of the startled young GBH. Hilarious! 🙂
We need to laugh…happy the GBH and Miss Rosa could make that happen 🙂 I had exactly the same thought when I watched her, envious how easily she can look great…for me even one hour won’t do much good so quite often I leave it with a few splashes of water 😀 I think Lady Cawcaw is finally getting “there”….will see how long she’ll be hanging around the nest.
Well, at least Lady is trying it seems. She’ll catch on quick enough now that she’s getting her feet wet. 😉
I love red winged black birds. So pretty. Hope your weekend was a good one. ❤
Funny that these Blackbirds would visit the Osprey nest when it is still occupied. They are indeed very pretty, I can’t say the same about their song though 🙂 I think Lady Cawcaw may already have caught a few fish, but her skill still needs lots of practice. That she no longer spends the nights at the nest is a sign of budding independence…she’ll be gone latest by the end of the month. Hope you are doing good, my friend ❤
You had an enjoyable weekend, what with your feathered neighbors! I look forward to the day I can look well groomed after 30 minutes. Miss Rosa reminded me of the pink shoes I was wearing today, so I think I at least looked half-decent 🙂 I love taking walks with you via your posts
Thank you, happy you enjoyed the walk! I too, envy Miss Rosa for her simple, but effective beauty routine. And I too have one pair of hot pink shoes in my closet, but have not used them for years….maybe I should surprise Miss Rosa 🙂
Well done Lady Caw Caw! Tough love seems to be paying off. Wonderful footage of the Marsh Helen. 🙂
Yes, Lady Cawcaw is at least trying now, and that’s the only way she’ll learn to take care of herself 🙂 She’s away from the nest for hours at the time now, but so far has always come back.
Goodness, you take wonderful closeups of your feathered friends.
Thank you Susan. Many of my friends are quite cooperative.
I hope that her talons are soon catching fish on the fly!
She would like that! And I’m happy to see she’s actually diving now.
I wish that we had your variety of herons. Excellent pictures of all the birds.
We have several more Herons, but they are never at the marsh all at the same time. I’ve seen 10 different Herons/Egrets there altogether.
You are lucky….and sharp eyed.
I have come with a smile, and I leave with a smile, Helen. Perhaps an even bigger smile… 🙂
What fabulous colours you see on your walks. I am so green!
The image of the Great Blue Heron flying away reminds me of a little figurine I gave as a gift to my daughter some years ago. It was a Great Blue Heron! I loved it. Now I think I must have one.. 🙂
xoxoxo
I think seeing me so close scared the GBH 🙂 He’s become much more well mannered as he’s matured. Yesterday, I saw the older one (the Mayor) again when on my walk with Dylan, so he is still around on the bay side. And yes, I think you definitely need that figurine 🙂 XX
Thanks again Tiny for a wonderful trip through your saltmarsh. Miss Rosa is looking gorgeous as usual. Loved the preening video! I was quite taken by the Reddish Egret, quite impressive, I have never seen this bird before. Is that neck plumage breeding or just normal? Like all youngsters it can be a task to get our youngsters to do their own chores, and Lady Caw Caw is no exception, it might take more time. What I have noticed with raptors generally is that they do seem to take longer to teach their young to catch food and fly. There seems to be more learnt knowledge than intuitive. I have seen some quite amusing instances with eagles teaching their young. Have a great week my friend:-))
Thank you for your visit to our marsh, Ashley! The Reddish Egret seems to have the same plumage year round, and his hunting technique is such a treat to watch 🙂 Lady Cawcaw is slowly learning to take care of herself. She still returns to the nest every day, but if she is like the chicks in 2014 and 2015, she’ll leave in the next one week. Have a wonderful week!
All your photos are, as usual, excellent, but that video of Miss Rosa is exceptional. She’s somewhat like some beauty queens getting up at 4 AM and sending 3 hours getting ready for the road!
Happy you enjoyed the video. I think Miss Rosa looks fabulous, but she only spent about 10 minutes total on her beauty routine 🙂
Tough love for Lady Cawcaw. Lovely images and splendid update.
I think that Osprey chicks might stay in the nest for much longer if their parents were not using some tough love 🙂
That gorgeous shot of Papa Stanley shaking out his wet feathers is my favorite of all these beautiful photos.
Thank you for your visit and kind comment!
Did you take all this pictures on the same day?
Alex Moses
Awakened Business Coach
Yes I took all these pictures the same day (last Sunday), apart from the first one that was taken from my terrace two days earlier.
Enjoyed seeing Miss Rosa’s elaborate beauty routine! 🙂 It’s wonderful that you have so many different kinds of colorful herons and egrets – all we have up here (that I’ve ever seen, that is) are great egrets. Sounds like Lady Cawcaw is coming along with her fishing lessons. Sandy seems to be a patient and persistent mom.
I enjoy seeing the various herons and egrets at the marsh. I’ve counted all in all 10 different sub-species, but they tend to visit at different times. Sandy is a great mother, very patient and wise. It’s funny how this year Sandy has been the main provider for this chick after she fledged, while last year Stanley brought the fish to the three fledglings. It looks like they are taking turns 🙂
Great post Helen! Adventure,love, pathos and preening 💛
Miss Rosa is a sweetie!
Happy you enjoyed the post, Val! I never know what kind of a story will unfold when I visit the salt marsh, but it’s always great to spot Miss Rosa 🙂
Those red-winged blackbirds are quite wonderful, and being from England, I never knew such a bird even existed. Now I learn that “it is the most abundant living land bird in North America, as bird-counting censuses of wintering red-winged blackbirds sometimes show that loose flocks can number in an excess of a million birds per flock and the full number of breeding pairs across North and Central America may exceed 250 million in peak years.”
The book arrived safely and in perfect condition, Helen! Many thanks to you and Dylan for signing it. It really is quite beautifully produced, and I am very grateful to you both. [I still want those lottery numbers off Dylan though!]
We have two couples of these Red-winged Blackbirds nesting at the salt marsh. They are very difficult to catch as their nests are right in the middle of the marsh, but I was lucky spotting them at the nest. They have a “whistling” kind of song so it’s easy to hear when they are around. Happy you received the book 🙂
LOVE your Canon pictures, Tiny!!! WOWOOWOWOW!!!!! And because it has been a while since I have been here, I cannot believe how fast the baby grew! Where has the time gone??? Fantastic post, one that I really really enjoyed!! Thank you!!! ❤
Thank you for your visit, dear Amy!! The ‘baby’ is the size of her parents now. She is still visiting the nest a few times a day, often to eat and take a nap 🙂 Happy you enjoyed the post! I hope your week is beautiful ❤
I hope your week is beautiful too, Helen!!! Enjoy!!! ❤
Each year with your beauties has it’s own adventures, doesn’t it? Hopefully, your next post will have Lady CawCaw fishing on her own.
Yes, each year brings its own adventures. I’m ‘dreaming’ about catching Lady Cawcaw’s fishing trip on camera, but it’s easier said than done. The waters on both sides of this island are so vast and she can fly in a minute from the bay side to the ocean. That has happened to me several times with her parents when I have been all set up to catch them catching a fish 🙂
I am amazed by what you do catch on camera, knowing how fast these birds are 🙂
Fabulous captures, and I loved Miss Rosa’s video! “Your” salt marsh is so awesome!!
Happy you loved Miss Rosa’s beauty routine, Donna! I just found out recently that “my” little salt marsh is part of the Florida Birding Trail. The smallest place on the trail 🙂
You’ve proven it is a hidden gem! 🙂
Lady Cawcaw looks so fabulous! Great captures of the flight and landing!!!
Thank you for the video, Helen! 🙂
Lady Cawcaw has grown up to beautiful young bird, indeed. I think she has great odds to make it through her first year and to maturity at 3 years. She has taken her time with her parents after fledging so she’s learning in the ins and outs of providing for herself. Miss Rosa’s appearance at the marsh is always a treat 🙂
She is a beauty! 🙂
Rosa. Big!
Giant 🙂
It’s like I am looking at pictures of Nalsarovar. The birds are gorgeous and I love the 4th pic especially the most.
Enchanting video of Miss Rosa!
Happy you enjoyed her beauty routine, Genie 🙂
Thanks for the update, Tiny!! I love Miss Rosa’s video!! Heck…I love Miss Rosa 🙂 Hope all is great in your world ♡