9:02 am
O. is back for a visit


9:05 am
Caught just the tail end of him when he flew below the nest.

10:30 - 10:50

Dad is nest building I have not seen Mom this am, but this is definitely Dad. After he settles a stick he looks about. Not sure if he is looking to see if Mom approves or where is she? Never having seen nest building from scratch, maybe Dad has to get it acceptable before Mom will accept him?

The wire base is giving him a problem with his footing. Several times it looked like his talons sort of stuck.



This new stick, didn't last. Dad moved it over towards the cam and it fell through the wire. Happened with several more.



This bulky stick gave Dad problems getting down in the bowl area, but it didn't fall through.



11:15 cam froze - sent message - it's back on

Love your last group of photos Bet...

Thank you Sandra. Cute Bichon avatar.

12:25pm MDT

It has been busy busy on the nest box. Dad flew in with sticks, tried to place several on the perimeter, they fell off. It's going to be awhile until he gets a base to cover the wire. At least one O has been on the nest almost all morning

At about 1222 Dad flew in and begin the wing flutter challenge. Suddenly Mom flew in to join him Could it be a third O that is causing Dad to be so assertive?


At last both on the nest at the same time. Big identity problem - a new Mom. She is very lightly marked on the head - almost identical to Dad. The dark area on the back of the skull appears to be smaller than Dad's, but too much wind to determine for sure today. I will try to get new head studies as soon as possible. Note in this image that she is taller than Dad, but a very slim youthful ( ) body. Dad is posturizing and bulking out his body in the threat mode, but he is still smaller than this svelte Mom.


Now I am sure that the O I declared Dad is the male as he flew off, he made a brief visit to Mom's back. No mating attempt, just a standing on her shoulders as if to say "MINE"



PS 1:30 A brief visit by both again with Dad doing the flutter challenge

What a relief to see those branches BET. Let's think of this as a POSITIVE sign of good things to come

1:38 pm


1:41 pm
Dad flies off.
I'm getting good at taking tail shots. I could become a professional tail catcher

Here is a comparison image of the fore face and chest markings. Not the best but will have to do for now.

3:48pm
Well they've accomplished a bit today.

great photos....BET and JKR

(Thanks BET, that's my Misha, who is now at the Rainbow Bridge) :cry1:

5:30pm MDt

Cam was down earlier. I reported it and it was back on in about 25 minutes. A definite improvement.

Mom - aha!!! I know which is which now - is home



JKR Are you going to catch the tail?


Sandra, I am sorry about your Misha. They do leave a huge hole in your heart.