When I said these little birds grow up fast, I had no idea just how much. On sneaking up to the nest last Monday morning, I noted immediately that it was empty. Not the kind of empty you'd see when the chicks were tiny (all of three weeks ago) and no parent was sitting on …
Month: February 2022
Nestwatch: Mea Culpa
If there's one thing you get used to by the time you reach my ripe old age, it's being making errors. Being mistaken, getting the wrong end of the stick, failure to comprehend -- I've had a wealth of opportunities to do all these things. Let's avoid all the truisms about failure being the path …
Nestwatch 6: fledging
You can't spend too much time away from a Willie Wagtail's brood because by God, they grow up fast. It's five days since we noted the joyful arrival of the chicks -- and scrawny, bald and unappealing little scraps they were, too. So we took a turn down to Commonwood this lunchtime to catch up …
Nestwatch 5: the happy event!
Sometimes guesswork and baseless supposition turns out to be true. When I surmised the other day that momma Willie was sitting a bit higher in the nest than usual, and that the bits of fluff around the edge of the nest might signal that the eggs had hatched, this turns out to be the case! …
Nestwatch 4
It’s a matter of some wonder – and a little concern – that this birdy couple has constructed its home so close to the path where you’d think it was vulnerable. I’m grateful, of course – that’s how you get to take photos without having to resort to scaffolding and ropes. It reminds me a …
Nestwatch 3
Off to Sydney last week looking for work, so the Willies were left to their own devices for four days or so. Somehow I don't think they minded much. Yesterday, late afternoon, I took Archie down to Commonwood Farm to check on progress -- and work out the kinks after driving back from the metrop. …
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