Little Visits from the Couch: A Morning with the Young Kites

I really feel I’ve been remiss working on the blog of late.  I guess if anything it has pointed out to me the very nature of the “now” of the running a blog.

Birds as Poetry has always been for me about our interactions, or visits with a limited range of birds.
So no visits, well, not postings.

Still, as I wander back through the most recent trips we took in mid June, there are certainly moments that need to be shared.

So expect to see a few Photographic Essay of our days with the young kites.   It either shows how dedicated to a clutch of birds, or how narrow our travel and bird experiences were during that period.  Be kind, we weren’t able to travel very far.

The evil thing is cutting such a swathe of agony for so many people.  I fully expect we will be limited in movement for quite a long time to come.
So enjoy the little interludes as I sweep out the library files, (figuratively of course)

Not often we saw all three on the same branch
After so many weeks with them, they were now very comfortable with our presence, and simply carried on around us
This picket was the only landing spot near me, and the young one came in quite deliberately to land. I’d like to think it wanted a closer look at my camera.
The clever one foot landing
They had spent more of their lives all together in the small nest, and still were happy to share the smallest branch area. One just about losing balance to make room for the interloper
It’s mine, no, mine, no mine.
One mouse, two hungry mouths, and not the ones Dad was interested in feeding. He would let them get close, but then turn away. He delivered it to the third one.
Still getting the hang of taking from Dad’s claw. This one has overshot the mouse and crashed into Dad’s tummy

9 thoughts on “Little Visits from the Couch: A Morning with the Young Kites

  1. Oh dear, the trials of parenthood in that last shot! A lovely selection of shots of the young Kites, learning new skills every day. And how lovely to be accepted by them so that they just got on with what they were doing.

    We are indeed living through a dreadful time for so many, but images like these give a lift to the heart. Thank you David.

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    1. Hello Eleanor, they have to learn among other things to both get the speed going up, and the speed going forward to control the approach to the dangling prey.
      What seems to happen initially is they don’t take into account the last wingbeat as they turn upside down, and lose momentum and fall away.
      Next time, an extra wingflap to keep up the speed and they sail right by the mouse, and in this case, Dad is in the direct line of approach. He seems to take it all with good grace.
      I am pretty certain that on occassions, he’ll change his position, and drop down to be sure that the little dude does get the food, almost placing it in the grasping claws.

      It is probably too soon with the numbers to predict, and I must admit I’m of the glass half-empty group. Just have to hang in I guess.

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  2. A lovely presentation of the young kit family David, with great clarity. While we continue to feel for you all there, our whole city has just been labelled a hot spot by the Premier, which will have implications for us trying to visit my family and friends next month and do our road trip out west. Things just get worse as people continue to flaunt the rules, others are just walking around infecting people without even knowing. It is older people this virus is having the more profound affect on, the sense of isolation and lack of touch and emotional contact with family. Despite the limitations on your birding exploits at present, you still pull out wonderful images that never cease to amaze and delight. Praying you ride these weeks well and safe.

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    1. Hi Ashley, thanks for stopping by.
      We have so much to be thankful for, so we are far from the bottom of the barrel yet. 🙂 But, and its a big one.
      While we, and others find ourselves doing the best to abide by the rules, there are so many that have taken no notice at all. The police are averaging over 200 fines a day.
      I don’t mind wearing a mask, and staying away from shopping centres etc. What I would like to do is be able to take walk among the trees and enjoy a stroll along the beach, and try and catch up on the latest stories of amazing birds.

      Time will indeed have to tell.

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  3. Fabulous mages and so lovely to see, David! It was such a privilege to get to know the family over the weeks we were able to visit them and get to know them, and they us. Indeed, I expect it will be some time before we can venture into the field. I guess the Zebbies have had the chicks by now, and the YRT’s. The Pipits will be back in numbers and the Goldfinches will be hatching soon. It is good to look back in the files but that can get tiring at times. Your blogs are always a pleasure to read and view and a welcome diversion from the sameness of the days at present.

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    1. hello David,
      Thanks for that. It was a pretty good run really. And that small area is such a honeypot.
      I worked this morning with a Goldfinch, that seemed to be collecting for a nest. I’m going to put up a couple on Flickr. No idea where the nest is, and no real way of keeping tabs on it anyway.

      I don’t mind being housebound on rainy overcast, or windy days, but this morning was out of the box. A brilliant clear morning.
      Oh well, such as someone famous said, ‘is life’.

      All good.

      Remain

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  4. These photos of your Black-shouldered Kite family are absolutely gorgeous, David. I can’t get enough of them. I’m very glad you are so intimate with them and happy to share with us. I have never seen more than 2 birds together so these “group photos” are a real delight to watch.

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    1. G’day Adam, thanks for the fine comments. As luck would have it, you’re in luck.
      Got a couple of weeks of visits yet to get through.
      I’ve been a bit remiss or better yet hit and miss on curating the images. Guess there is not pressure to move on to the next new shoot anytime soon.
      Chatting with a friend today and we talked about the excitement of being close enough to see the feathers move as they breath. Hard to put that in a single visual.
      Remain

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      1. You’ve done it David in your today’s post. May not be a single visual but also your words – I could not see it but I could feel the excitement. Thanks for sharing.

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