Watching the eagles

[9unfold]

It seems Guy and Lipstick are going well.

I'm still trying to figure out how many eggs they have and when they are expected to hatch.

Is there an "average" amount of eggs? Or does each pair egg count differ?

 

[Long Lashes]

There has been much drama at the Hanover nest in the past month or so. This article helps explain some of it.

Hanover Bald Eagle Blog # 4 - 2023 - HDOnTap

Blog about bald eagles

hdontap.com

Thank you for this information Michelle, but oh no Its sad to read how our Liberty and Freedom may have nested elsewhere this season and I don't like the idea of a new different pair of eagles taking over the nest.

Although, I think I'm being a bit silly thinking in this way because this is nature and it happens, its just that I've become very attached to Liberty and Freedom (which is my own fault) and of course these are wild birds and not pets.

It seems that the people who run the cameras on the nest are as confused as I am about who this new pair of eagles are and whats exactly happened? ... I guess we will have to wait and see. Also no eggs have been laid in this nest yet, maybe we won't see new babies here this season?

 

[Long Lashes]

It seems Guy and Lipstick are going well.

I'm still trying to figure out how many eggs they have and when they are expected to hatch.

Yes these two are thriving and there is always something to watch and see when I look in on their web-cam.




Here is Lipstick early the other morning...

^^this photo doesn't do it justice, but the colours of the sun rising were fantastic.




Here she is late at night on her enchanted nest ...

how different everything looks in the dark and how vulnerable Lipstick looks all alone.



Here's Guy returning to the nest next morning to bring breakfast (something ucky) and give Lipstick a break ...

he looks so pound sitting on the nest and keeping those eggs warm ...

^^ just look at how cool he looks with that guy-liner, but the fluffy feather stuck on his nose made me laugh





Do you recall last year when Lipstick used to juggle the sticks? well much to my delight she still does it ...

:laughing:

 

[Long Lashes]

Is there an "average" amount of eggs? Or does each pair egg count differ?

I think the average is between 1 - 3 eggs.

Its rare for an eagle to lay 4 eggs, although Lipstick did last year and sadly that didn't end well for the last tiny chick to hatch, he never caught up with his bigger siblings and didn't make it.

Its going to be interesting to discover just how many eggs Lipstick and Guy have this year. I've definitely seen two eggs but they might just have three or even four? the eggs are not easy to see.

 

[Long Lashes]

Wonderful News! :hats:


Guy and Lipstick have a new ball of fluff which hatched yesterday...

how proud Mum and Dad look

Awww he looks so tiny :love5:

I think they still have at least two more eggs due for hatching. I love this time of the year when I can watch them feeding their new family, in fact I could just sit and watch them all day and get nothing else done

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Meanwhile, I'm missing Liberty and Freedom terribly I'm not all together sure whats happening in there nest?

There has been a male and female (with a poorly foot) dropping in from time to time......

No eggs and no sign of Liberty or Freedom.



Also a juvenile eagle has been on the nest as well ...

I wonder if this is one of Liberty and Freedoms babies from the last couple of years?

and strangely Lipstick and Guy also had a visit from a juvenile ...

As you can see Lipstick was none too pleased with this visitor and she drove him away ...

These poor juveniles don't seem welcome back , but I guess the adult eagles are highly protective of their eggs.

 

[Long Lashes]

Breaking News!


Lipstick and Guy now have TWO bits of fluff!

I wonder if they will have a number three?

Beautiful :love7:

Fighting each other already :laughing: if another egg hatches I hope the new fluff will be a toughie to keep up with these two who have had a head start.

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Meanwhile Liberty and Freedom are still missing but this juvenile eagle hung around there nest for a while this morning ..

Who is it? I need to know.

 

[Biggie]

Some excellent news about the new arrivals.
@Long Lashes some first rate images. Thanks for posting.

 

[Trick-or-Treat Stevens]

It's sad that we may not see Liberty and Freedom again like we use to. It seems that nest isn't going to have a show this season.

Good to see Lipstick and Guy are having a good year thus far. I see two thus far. I hope for more.

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I'm thinking this is one of the offspring from 2021 or last year. If I remember correctly Liberty and Freedom had no eaglets in 2020, one in 2021 and two on 2022.

I think this one would be too young to be Soap or Chat from 2019 as I have read it takes them three years to fully get adult colored feathers. It's possible though.

 

[Long Lashes]

It's sad that we may not see Liberty and Freedom again like we use to. It seems that nest isn't going to have a show this season.

Oh I know and I do miss them I just took it for granted they would be back in the nest again this season, it just shows how unpredictable nature is.

Liberty and Freedoms nest did have a visitor in the dead of night ...

Its a gorgeous Barn owl who seems to be eyeing up the nest, but yikey Owls can be dangerous to our eagles.

I think this one would be too young to be Soap or Chat from 2019 as I have read it takes them three years to fully get adult colored feathers. It's possible though.

If it was Chat we would instantly know because he would lay down and start lounging about the nest like he used to do

I'm thinking this is one of the offspring from 2021 or last year. If I remember correctly Liberty and Freedom had no eaglets in 2020, one in 2021 and two on 2022.

I wonder if its Fluff from 2021? ...

remember him? he was Liberty and Freedoms only eaglet that year....

which would make him about 2 years old ..

I like to think its our Fluff returning

 

[Long Lashes]

Good to see Lipstick and Guy are having a good year thus far. I see two thus far. I hope for more.

I think they hopefully one more egg to hatch yet ...

^^^You can see the egg above near the two babies, I hope it hatches soon or else its going to be tough for it to compete for food with his bigger siblings.




Even just one day apart its easy to see the difference in size between these two ..

Aw Lipstick and Guy are great parents and so attentive again...

Look how tiny this baby is peeping out ...

I love this photo, it looks like one baby has its arm around the other ...

So flipping cute

 

[Biggie]

Will there be sitting of the nomenclator committee to consider naming the new arrivals, unless that has already happened.
Can anyone put forward suggestions?

 

[Long Lashes]

Can anyone put forward suggestions?

Yes of course, its a free for all .. but now we need 3 names because another egg has hatched.



Welcome to the world number 3 ..

three tiny little fluffy heads in the sunshine ..

I've got to commend Guy who is back and forth to the nest with a constant supply of fish (poor fish) he's keeping his family well fed and he's so attentive of Lipstick, he really looks after her. Here he is actually feeding her ....

 

[Biggie]

Welcome to the world number 3 ..

This is a ray of much sunshine under the grey rainy skies I currently find myself.

I'll have to put my thinking cap on RE: suitable names.

Excellent photos. Thanks

 

[Long Lashes]

Family life suits Lipstick and Guy, how content they look here...

^^ they're practically smiling

They really are wonderful parents, these babies never go hungry. Guy is always bringing fresh fish and other gruesome looking things or he's fetching new straw and sticks.



Here's Guy preparing dinner and gets more than he bargained for from one of his brood ..

whoops!




The weather changes so quickly high up in that tree and this family have had to contend with everything, but luckily no snow this season.

Here are Lipstick and Guy during a beautiful sunset ...

both keeping an eagle-eye at exactly the same time on something flying past



This one demonstrates how windy it can get ...

Lipstick has her wings spread to keep her babies dry.



It was pouring down on this next image and you can see the Cleaners (Starlings) quickly returning home...

It shows how many Starlings are living in the basement



And this one made me laugh ..

This eaglet couldn't work out how to get over the sticks so walks under them



Mum and Dad can't even enjoy a meal together without the three watching every bite..Lol!

And now we are at the stage where the eaglets have discovered they have wings ...

They are so cute :love5:





The difference is size is still apparent, its incredible the difference that hatching just a few days later makes ..

For once they are showing some brotherly love instead of fighting/competing to be fed. Number #3 is there too ... he's fast asleep in front of the two.





One of my favourite images is of these massive feet ..

he'll grow into them eventually :laughing:

 

[9unfold]

@Long Lashes your post above is worth singling out for further recognition. It's a worthy contender for Post Of The Year 2023.

I couldn't see it, or have I missed it?

 

[Long Lashes]

This was a very special view from Lipstick and Guys nest ...

How lovely to see horses and a cart I need to try and find out what sort of farm this is?





The eaglets have been struggling with the warm weather, they don't seem able to cope well with the heat and end up panting in the same way dogs do.

Here's Lipstick trying to provide some shade for her children ...

Guy should build them a sun-parasol from sticks





Here are our rapidly growing eaglets ... home alone! :eck:

"Hey, I was only gone for five minutes"...

Guy and Lipstick continue to bring fresh fish to the nest several times a day, these chicks eat a lot!

You can see the poor fish being carried in by Guy's talons



Nature is tough, poor fish

The eaglets are doing a lot of preening (even during the night) as their real feathers start making an appearance...

Here's one og the trio helping Mum preen her feathers ..

The wings on these eagles are glorious ...

It was very foggy yesterday morning ..

.. which makes mw wonder how do the eagles and other birds manage to fly when the visibility is poor?






Guy and Lipstick are perfect together and a pleasure to observe..

^^that's Lipstick on the left with the bouffant hair-do

 

[Long Lashes]

Over in Liberty and Freedoms nest I'm so pleased they have both been spotted recently ...


Here's Liberty sitting on the nest, I feel sad for her that she didn't have any eggs this year and I'm not sure why this happened?

She's such a beauty



And here comes Freedom to join her ..

I hope nest season is more successful for them, although, for all I know they might be enjoying having a complete rest this year?

 

[Long Lashes]

@Long Lashes your post above is worth singling out for further recognition.

Thank you @9unfold that's very kind of you.

I'm just pleased you enjoy these eagles because I do get very carried away sometimes with my postings

 

[Long Lashes]

I love this photo ..

it looks to me like Lipstick has gathered her children for story-time




Feeding time again ...

Spaghetti for dinner .. :fp:

and Chicken for tea ..

Aw poor chicken I don't know where these parents are getting all these chickens from? but I suspect a farmer somewhere must be hopping mad.



All lined up in size just watching the world go by ..

If you look between the branches you can see Mr Farmer going past with his horse and cart ..

This eagle family live in a wonderful part of the world.

 

[Long Lashes]

The new night time routine is that Lipstick now sleeps on the branch, that nest is getting crowded now the eaglets are growing...

our eagles are now trying to fly ...

it must be wonderful to discover you have wings





they're also walking around the nest and exploring more ..

^^ the one on the far left is having a go at self-feeding.



The weather has been rough for the last couple of days. The eaglets make me laugh how they put their heads under Lipstick to try and get out of the weather..

^^these two look like they're singing

"you lookin' at me?"