 Upon my arrival this evening around 8:30 , I was told about an early afternoon incident! LittleEagle had flown onto the roof of a nearby house.. The crows spotted the little fellow and did their bad business against hi! The person who told me this story said she heard his cries and came out to see what was happening. LittleEagle faced a barrage of crow assaults , then bolted off to some nearby trees. The forst photo is where I saw him this evening. Even here with all the branches around him, the crows still went for him.. Dang Crows!  Evening food?? delivery just past 9PM  Canada Day fireworks barge heading towards the Sidney waterfront! As I write, its going to happen soon! Congratulations CANADA, on a great 150 yeqrs!
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Just a quick report to let you know that under a watchful small crowd for the past 2 hours or so, LittleEagle has been in the nest, visiting with his siblings and enjoying the sun!... A few minutes ago, as I left he flew down and is perched below the nest in the shade!... Its a very warm day here on Southern Vancouver Island.. The area is overloaded with people and cars... Canada turns 150 years old tomorrow
Happy Canada 150 Day .. More later this evening with photos! .. TerryV  LittleEagle was in a playful mood this evening and delighted me by making his appearance just for me and 1 other watcher, plus a lovely Welsh Terrier, (woof woof) during the golden light just before sunset. After allowing me to photograph him and his 2 Eagle siblings , he disappeared to the back of the nest .   After some minutes when I was the only one remaining, and packing to leave, I noticed some rapid movement in the middle of the nest .. fired away and got 3 low light shots of LittleEagle rocketing out of the nest   I was about to head home, when I thought.. I bet LittleEagle will be near the beach , watching the sunset... I headed down there and within 2 minutes of scanning.. There he was... High in a large tree looking West... A bit tricky to see in the above and first photo, but he is there, I assure you! And the flight he made this evening was so strong... so accurate and so fast... I was really impressed with the progress he's made in a few days. Thanks to everyone who comes here and enjoys this ongoing story... It is my pleasure to be your LittleEagle news reporter! All the best... TerryV   I arrived at the nest just before 8PM and quite a crowd was on the street... I do feel rather sorry for the residents, who I'm sure are beginning to wonder if they will ever get their neighbourhood back. Mind you most of the residents I speak with are as involved with this story as the rest of us are. Thank you to all those dear people who do live near this nest.. You have been most gracious! Back to LittleEagle ...who spent an hour or so in the tree beside the nest , soaking up the evening sun! I saw several food deliveries this evening , took quite a few really bad photos, and a few that look to be not too bad! Plus 7 minutes of 4K video, around 9:30 and it was so dark that I could barely see... Both adult eagles showed up just around 9:25 and there was much rejoicing and squeaking from LittleEagle... The video shows the adult Eagle bringing food over to the little guy and a lot of fast paced chomping. So everyone will go to sleep tonight with a full tummy.. A nice feeling indeed! *** A new video page just added*** Last nites's video now on my YouTube video channel :) Cheer's.. TerryV Look closely at these 3 images.. Adult drops a Herring from left talon.. It is visible falling past the Eaglet, then reached the nest in the 3rd photo. This sequence was shot in RAW @ 14 frames/second! Todays LittleEagle story is one that parallels the upcoming vacation season. I just returned from the nest site where 1 Adult Eagle performed a couple of flights in, one to bring food for the Eaglets and another just to check on them. Meanwhile, LittleEagle sits comfortably in an adjacent tree enjoying the morning Sun! He does call loudly at times , as is his habit and this allows the parents to always know his location even when hidden amongst the green boughs. I actually have a number of things to do today, so couldn't stay past 10AM, but I am guessing LittleEagle will dash back to the nest for food at some point this morning. Photos will be up shortly and I'll be back there again this eveing for the next report. All the very best to everyone.. Have a Happy Wednesday...... TerryV  I spent a golden hour this evening at the nest.. No sign of the adult Eagles, but I do suspect they were busy hunting, as it is the best time of day of opportunities! All 4 siblings were posing for a photo shoot when I arrived around 8PM .. LittleEagle returned to the King of the Castle spot, then flew down into the nest . All 4 looking well fed, relaxed and happy! To see this tranquil scene made me happy as well! A big thank you to "Neetu" and GLOBAL TV for showing some of my images on their news special , featuring this unusual Natural event! Cheers from Southern Vancouver Island.. Terry V. LittleEagle was first seen by myself around 7:30 this morning. He was in the lower branches of the tree that the crows chased him to last evening just around sunset. He was keeping quite a low profile, but found a sunny spot and did a great job of avoiding the local newspaper press who were there for a couple hours getting the latest story. (Greetings to the Times Colonist folks whoI spoke with today) About the time my decision to head home and finally get some breakfast, LittleEagle flew across to the Nest Tree and worked his way up , hopping and making short flights to the tree. Today he chose to enter from the back and when he flitted into the nest there was quite a racket.. So much squawking as to make all of us on the ground wonder.. Even one of the adult Eagles flew in, landed and hollered at the kids. I held my breath wondering what had happened, then sure as always, LittleEagle strolled out, found his regular favourite spots and enjoyed the sun.. posed for photos and waited for the brunch to be delivered. And it was , pretty much like clockwork as I was finally packing up my gear at 11:59 AM! So.. food, family , sunshine and another day of contentment! As always I will sort through todays best images and post them as I have time! Thanks so much for stopping in........ TerryV   A great afternoon of observing! I don't usually go to the nest midday because the overhead sunlight can be so harsh for photos, but I was worried that the little creature was hungry and not being fed! I arrived about 3:15 this afternoon and there was no sign of LittleEagle.. Then I went walking the beach and surrounding area trying to spot him. While oceanside, I heard that plaintive calling that is so recognizable and realized that LittleEagle was indeed in the nest area... I went running back towards the cries , only to have just missed one of the adults bringing food, and there in the nest was our favourite little creature, acting very baby-bird like, with wings outstretched and amazingly one of the Eaglets seemed to be feeding him. Beak to beak , Just like I have seen the adults do. This may have just been at the end of the meal where 2 animals check each other out, but please look at the photos above. After this, LittleEagle completely stretched his wings and enjoyed the warmth of the afternoon sun! I waited for another hour ++ but never saw more food come in, howver I'm now certain that everyone is getting their fill and the family group all seem to be getting along famously!!! *** Just so everyone knows .. I have been using "him" in reference to LittleEagle, but it is completely unknown at this point if we are observing a he or a she :) Have a Happy evening...... Terry * Late evening just before sunset, I watched a flock of crows go after LittleEagle who flew off the nest over to a nearby tree. They eventually went away but certainly gave LittleEagle a life lesson!  Can you spot LittleEagle?? The crows did and harassed him fiercly this evening  Mom had enough of the crows and took a scare them away flight!  Here's where she landed.. right under the tree full of crows! Greetings ! I was a bit later to the nestsite today (around 6:30) Our favourite little character was heard immediately upon my arrival... very vocal! "He" was first seen in a new location , but in another nearby tree within a close visual of the nest. LittleEagle moved from tree to tree this morning, and called loudly, inbetween periods of sitting silently in the morning sun. His adoptive family was also very vocal, with numerous visits by the Adults bringing in a variety of food, but mainly fish by the looks of the photos I shot. As I was just leaving aroind 9AM this morning, LittleEagle was attempting to get back into the nest and had just made a rather clumsy hop upward, grasped onto a branch jutting out from the nest and his weight pulled it out.. then he tumbled and dropped back into the branches.... I'm sure he wasn't hurt, but everyone there let out a loud "ooohhhh" Being back to the nest seems like his only chance of feeding, as his parents have not been seen bringing him anything directly. Photos up again today as I have time... Cheer's from Vancouver Island... Terry V  My 1st image of LittleEagle this morning enjoying the sunshine  LittleEagle made several flights today before getting back to the nest tree   A small fish being brought to the nest  Looking for the fish  Biting the foot that feeds me  Baby got the fish  Mom's gonna bring us a fish thisss BIG!!! Good Morning! Sorry I wasn't nestside last evening, but I made up for it this morning... Just home since being there from 5:30 AM and around 1000 images to sort through! Plus I might need some breakfast. LittleEagle doing very well and is currently back inside the nest waiting for the next food delivery form Mom or Dad. I also had the closest look so far of the little creature, shooting photos for about 10 meters! Picture up here ASAP Happy Sunday... Terry  My 1st image this morning of LittleEagle sitting directly below the nest  LittleEagle is finding his way around the nest quite easily...  Come-ON Lazybones, its 6:05 AM on a gorgeous summer day! Your sis and I have been doing Eagle Yoga for an hour already!!!   Mom Watching .. Unless both p[arents are off hunting for this hungry brood, there is generally one of the adults sitting close to the nest, keeping a watchful eye on the neighbourhood (and of course constantly looking for food opportunities)  I was fortunate to have an extraordinary close encounter with LittleEagle this morning ... He is quite a handsome creature up close as well as from afar!    One of the parent Eagles was very closeby observing while I took the close-ups of LittleEagle   Breakfast arrived, but some were hungrier than others  Little Eagle listens from below as breakfast was being eaten  Last shot of the morning .. LittleEagle a tad disappointed with a stick for breakfast... No doubt something more substantial arrived after I left! :)   Can you toss me some breakfast, please??  Greetings to everyone following this amazing story! Just before 8AM today I shot the above photo! LittleEagle looking very good in his natural camo, sometime earlier today made his way up to the tree where one of his adoptee parents stood vigil overnite. The little creature after a while made his way to the top of that open limb to the right and watched the goings on oceanside below. About 8:30ish he looked a bit nervous and hit the open airways.. flew off this limb , across and above me back to his nest tree. As I write this he sits below the nest (very active with Eaglets) awaiting his next manoeuvre. Photos of the flight to follow Have a wonderful day.... Terry PS .. A big thank you to those that gather and observe this phenomenon of Nature. I have met some absolutely great people nestside... All of us seem intent on learning something about Nature and ourselves through these observations!       Heres where he is sitting at present .. Just feet below the nest Friday evening .. I wish I could say that I saw LittleEagle today, however all I did was to hear his cries. Pretty sure he went to bed hungry tonight, as I never got any actual confirmation of him being fed today. I did hear a story about his Mother taking him out to lean how to fish... but I rather doubt it. As far as I can tell, he spent the entire day in the tree that he flew to this morning when he fledged. This evening's shoot, as beautiful as the light was, felt very melancholy , as our LittleEagle was not in the picture, but hidden from view. Hopefully tomorrow will be better! In the mean while, I do hope you enjoy these last light (golden hour) images of the Eagle Family. All the best.... Terry    My view from the ground where I was shooting the images above for perspective Our LittleEagle has officially fledged.... Around 9AM today he flew from the nest to a nearby tree. I missed the event but was there shortly afterwards. One of the adult Eagles (Dad) was sitting in the same tree about 100 meters away. I could hear the little creature calling, but couldn't see him! More later plus new images, but a couple interesting sidenotes. 1.. While I was nestside late this morning 2 of the Eaglets were visible and an Annas Hummingbird kept buzzing the nest and in fact several times landed on a nearby branch and looked at an Eaglet who stared at him! WOW.. (Might have a photo?) 2 The tree where LittleEagle flew to also had a visitor. I photographed a very obliging Kingfisher who seemed to be sitting on a nearby branch and watch this continuing story evolve! The Natural world is truly incredible! More later as time permits............ Terry  Papa Eagle sits high above the spot where LittleEagle flew to this morning. He was calling loudly, but I could not spot him!  Kingfisher sits on lower branch below LittleEagle Click on above images and look for the Hummingbird in each photo! I was wondering if the Hummingbird was conveying a message, as the Eaglets were watching her intently!  Hidden from my sight inside these green boughs sits the newly fledged LittleEagle ... What will happen now???  Here are my latest images from the Eagles family condo! (The foster child is doing very well... Almost thought he was going to choke on some food tonight, but no worries!!! He was definitely feeling more at ease branching out on various limbs, but I would say he is glued to this adopted family! Cheers to everyone who has found my blog and site!!! ... TerryV  "Dances with Eagles"   Fresh images from the nest this morning.. Breakfast was delivered and LittleEagle is seen jumping in for his share! (which he heartily enjoyed for at least 10 minutes!
More photos later from this mornings shoot! Thanks for looking and all the best to the folks stopping by from the HANCOCK WILDLIFE FOUNDATION! www.hancockwildlife.org < click link button below >  Hopping through the Tree-Tops Greetings to everyone... Sorry for the lag in updates on our little Hawk who truly is an Eagle! (I spent much of the day away) but was back at the nest this evening . Forgot my tripod in my haste to leave the house,(grrr) so photo quality might drop a touch, with all shots being handheld! Welcome to Summer Solstice everyone , just look at this little creature balance! * The 9 images below are in a gallery... Just click on the first then navigate using the arrows to the next, etc *  I LOVE my DAD  Shot this evening at 9:20 PM ISO 25,600 f5.6  The young Eaglets are watching and mimicking everything "LittleEagle" does  Back at the nest late this evening.. Very little activity until near 9PM .. Juvi Eaglets performed much wing flapping... The Young Hawk-Eagle skipped along the open branch and made little flights in the boughs! My heart races as I feared he may fall, but after 15 or 20 minutes of these antics and adult came in with food and he dove back into the nest for a snack! Tomorrow should ne a nail biter.. Will he fledge??? .. Signing of on this last day before Summer Solstice... You're eyes on the Hawk-Eagle in Sidney, BC ... Terry V :)    Another exciting morning at the nest of the Hawk who would be an Eagle! We observed the little fella getting fed (food arrived via both parents nearly at once) and afterward he climbed up on the West facing tree limb and then hopped (flew) down! He sure is growing fast and feathering out! Thanks again for all the great visits I had with kind and concerned folks at the nest site, and hello to those youngsters who attended with their school class to watch some real life Nature at work! Bravo to their teacher for binging them and caring! Also hello to all those new to my site now watching from Manitoba! Greetings.. Terry V    Well, the Sunday rain finally subsided and gave way to a misty overcast morn.. As I got to "The Nest" immediately I saw our favourite little Hawklet sitting alone out on a limb. I just missed clicking on him doing some serious stretches, but did spend several hours observing. At about 8AM he began crying loudly and one of the adult Eagles who was perched nearby came over and sat beside him.. This seemed to comfort the little creature. I met a host of people today at the site and want to thank the local residents for their extreme patience and kindness shown to a group of strangers who have literally descended into their neighbourhood to see this oddity of Nature unfold. Thanks to the residents and thanks to all passerby's for your comments and wisdom! Cheer's Terry PS.. Yes..I will print more greeting cards and bring them along next time (Perhaps this evening)  Dad arrives!  Thanks for coming over, DAD.. Now what are we gonna do about those crows???  !!! Dang Crows !!!   "I'm an Eagle... I'm an Eagle"  Brunch arrives  A Hummingbird checks the nest  The "Lookout Gang"  June 17th at the Sidney Eagles nest .. Sorry for the late additions, but after shooting over 500 images yesterday over4 + hours then a busy day after.. I ran out of stem until this morning. Here are my highlights from the morning shoot! A very happy Fathers Day to all Dads. Special thanks to my Dad, Bryan who watched over me for many decades and is still there on my shoulder!  Red Tail Hawk .. Life on the edge These images are from this morning ... June 17th .. More later this evening!  Waiting for breakfast   Late this afternoon I staked out the local celebrity Eagles nest and was richly rewarded. Not only excellent light, but the parents brought in some dinner for the kids.. And the hungriest one of all, seems to be the little adopted Retail Hawk. More photos and story later after I finish processing this evening! My dear friend Jim Hatter was with me at this shoot in so many ways, so I am dedicating todays images to JIM! Thank you to the folks who stopped by, chatted and made my day!!! Please stay in touch! Terry ...  The story as I perceive it is this... About 10 days ago, a fellow photographer, friend of mine showed me a photo of this Eagles nest with a strangely small baby eagle. He asked me if it was common for some of the nestlings to be older than the others, and to my knowledge, I said yes it was. However, this baby, was no Eagle as it turns out, but a Red Tail Hawk. There were aparantly 2 R.T.H.'s at first, which I believe to have been stolen out of their nest by the plundering Eagle parent. (This food gathering behaviour is quite common, though frightful to us humans.. it is nature and survival) These birds would have been brought to the nest as food for the young Eaglets ... One disappeared and it's presumed was eaten, while this 2nd Hawk somehow lived and became an adoptee. As I observed this evening, when the parents arrived with fresh food, this baby Hawk popped his head up and screamed for dinner... Which was promptly delivered.. Lovingly, and tenderly, I might add. Time will tell if there are other stories out there similar to this one, but for me it draws some parallels to my own life and existence in the Natural world. Hope you enjoy the photos... Terry  |
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March 2018 .. I just received notice that my blog has been awarded a distinction of being one of the top 100 photography blogs in Canada.
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