Spending an afternoon in the sun with Eloise

We’ve been away up the family acres.

So not much local bird photography from us.  However stay tuned as I slowly get a week’s worth of shots sorted out.
We went up for the annual Birdlife Werribee, (formerly Werribee Wagtails) camp out.

As we unpacked in the early afternoon, the warmth of the sunshine was a bit too much to ignore and we decided by unanimous vote to “Go to the Office, and see how the Black-shouldered Kite pair were doing”.

So.

When we got there, (in the words of Arlo Guthrie), they were nowhere to be found, so we trekked on down to the river area.

And.

Found Elosie in residence on ‘her’ tree.
Wasn’t too hard to break out the Earl Grey, settle in and watch.  At one stage she seemed to nod off to sleep with her eyelids drawn down. (or is it up?> I don’t know!)

In the end as the evening sun set slowly in the west. (Not an Arlo Guthrie quote), she took to the air, moved up the river to a more sheltered tree and seemed to settle for the evening.
It’s good to be back.

In the meantime a friend sent me this link to a BBC Film unit video of an Osprey hunting. Be inspired.

Hawking up the remains of undigested food. Fish bones I’d suspect, wouldn’t you,

A wonderful tail stretch. Must get boring sitting for so long

Guess who’s sleepy then?

Time to clean under your wings.

At launch

That big lump under the chest must be from the fishing expedition I guess. Else its muscle.

Ok, I’m settled, now. Will you go away!