Sunday 10 October 2010 - Empty Nest

This is the image of the empty nest syndrome from which we are now suffering. We have been surprised at how fast it's all over. Once the chicks started flying that was it - they are out in the big wide world and we feel bereft. The paper is down from the kitchen window, there's no longer any point in squinting out of the bathroom window and we find ourselfs straining for the call of the parents. We have seen one of the chicks and one of the parents today but they have places to go, birds to meet and procreation phase is over for now. What a privilege it has been to witness this little family grow from two to five members and to see how it's done in the Wagtail world. We look forward to next season....

Saturday 9 October 2010 - I believe they can fly.....

We've been anticipating the flying lessons and hoped it would happen when we were around to witness the great occasion. This morning we noticed that the parents were doing a lot of calling and flying back and forth to the roof and the wash line.

We then realised that one of the babies, Jaws, was standing on the edge of the nest. A short while later Mark called me out to the garden to see the brave little fellow perched on a flower pot, looking very pleased with his new-found freedom and Mum and Dad fluttering around excitedly. One of our dogs was nosing around nearby and the next thing Jaws flew up to the garage roof where he could survey the world in relative safety.

The parents continued to call and fly from the gutter above the nest and back to the back garden. Then I noticed that Fang was standing on the edge of the nest and I could see his little chest beating from where I was at the window. He "chickened out" and re-joined his sibling in the nest. Unfortunately I had to go out at 7:30am and only returned at 3:30pm. The first thing I saw when I drove in was one of the chicks on the driveway. He flew up to the wall when he saw the car. By this time all three of the babies had taken wing and flown the nest. They have been around on and off since I came home but a season is now over. I wonder if the parents will be back to lay another clutch of eggs?

Here is Jaws, the firstborn proudly perched on our garage roof. He's very proud of his new flying skills which got him up there and he is surveying the world.

Friday 8 October 2010 - Feeding Frenzy

The chicks are growing and the parents are rushing about frantically trying to keep up with their culinary demands. Here is one of them searching for insects on the lawn.

The babies are certainly outgrowing the nest and peering out at the big wide world. They are now almost as big as the parents. We're sure the flying lessons will begin soon.

Tuesday 5 October - Growing Up

Here are Jaws and Fang patiently waiting for breakfast. It's amazing how quickly they've grown into recognizable wagtails. I'm not sure where Grootbek is - I hope he's behind these two in the nest. The leaves on the creeper are beginning to spread and soon we won't be able to see into the nest. We should be able to witness their first attempts at flight soon. It has been such a joy and a privilege to watch this little family.

Saturday 2 October - Peace in the Nest

Just a bundle of feathers... When I peeped into the nest from the bathroom window this morning the parents were "out shopping" and the triplets were snuggled up and sleeping soundly. We are very impressed at how hard the parents work to feed these hungry little chicks. We see them flitting around the garden with hapless insects hanging from their mouths, ready to feed their young. Parenting ain't for sissies.

Wednesday 29 September 2010 - Three fledglings

Here they are - the singing wagtail trio. Mark managed to get this shot with his Berry at lunch time today. It was pretty hot and they looked rather stressed. Mark named the third chick Grootbek - or Bek for short so they are now officially Bek, Fang and Jaws. Meet the gang.

Monday 27 September - Fledglings

Whilst I've been away Mark has taken on the duty of chief nest watcher and photographer (except I have our camera with me). This is what he has to say about today's entry.
I noticed when I got home that there was a parent on the nest and then as I gave the dogs their biscuits heard the high pitched chirrup of the departing parent so I took the gap, no adults @ home! Just missed a brilliant pic with all three (yes, dear! 3!) beaks wide open as they sensed the movement of the camera just above them.  In the best picture you see Jaws with gaping maw and siblings on either side. They are very silent, not a peep!

Friday 24 September - Breakfast

 Mama and Papa were out early this morning collecting food for their offspring, Jaws and Fang. I managed to get this shot of one of them feeding Fang (hidden behind the feather) whilst Jaws on the right and below Mama waits with his jaws wide open for his share.

Shortly after feeding the babies the parent sat down in the nest protectively. I received a stony glare and I could just imagine him or her saying, "Hey Lady, get that bloody camera out of here! This is a private nursery and you're bothering me. Now get out!"

Wednesday 23 September 2010 - They've Hatched!

Mum and Dad have their work cut out for them. They've been in a flap all day trying to keep up with those two hungry little fledglings in the nest. I took a chance and peeled back the paper covering on the window and managed to catch this shot of one of the parents just flying off for another round of food whilst the other parent (to the right) is dropping their offerings into the hungry little mouths. Wow those babies can eat!

I then stood at the bathroom window peering out at an awkward angle until one of the parents returned with a morsel of food. If one looks carefully below the mother one can just see a tiny little beak wide open and stretched up waiting for food. 

22 September 2010 - Wagtail Eggs

We have been anticipating the "egg hatching" this week. We estimate that the eggs were laid about 14 days ago.

The parents watch me with their beady little eyes when I peep out of the bathroom window. I hope they are beginning to feel ok about these humans that watch them. I have been very curious about how many eggs there are and this evening I noticed that neither of the parents was in the nest. I grabbed the camera and "egged on" by Mark I slipped around the side of the house and took a couple of photos. Just as I dashed back inside one of the parents came back  to the nest and we could hear them telling me off for intruding. I sincerely hope they don't abandon the nest. 

Two eggs and a lovely warm nest. What a responsibility the parents carry. What an awesome privilege to watch the cycle of life.

Saturday 11 September 2010 - Out for breakfast

I noticed this morning that Mama had left her nest - probably to go and get breakfast. I wanted to get a look in to see if I could see any eggs. Unfortunately the nest is too deep but I got a peep at the cosy feather lined interior.

Friday 10 September 2010 - The story so far....

We recently noticed a pair of wagtails hanging around our garden. In April our neighbours who owned three cats moved out and since then we've been noticing more varieties of birds visiting our garden. For the past 5 years we've had mostly doves and pigeons with a few sparrows. The wagtails caught my attention because I hadn't seen them for so long.

On 28 August we I noticed that the wagtails were building a nest in the creeper just outside our kitchen window. I wondered if they would stick around so close to our activities and daily goings on. They were apparently building two nests but they seem to have settled on one location. This photo shows one of the wagtails working on a nest and another one with only his tail visible to the right, working on another.

After that we saw them infrequently for a few days. I wondered if they had gone off to find a more "private" location to set up home.

 On the 2nd September I was delighted to see them pecking around in our vegetable patch, which is quite rich in compost and of course worms. This little chap then hopped onto the lawn and started searching for insects the grass. He eyed me a bit suspiciously but didn't seem too perturbed.

Again much to our delight we saw them both in the nest on 6 September. I immediately covered the lower part of the window with white paper and cut a tiny peep hole. We could then watch without being seen or threaten the happy couple. Mark took a photo of me peeping at the "neighbours" through my peep hole.

On 9 September I looked out of the bathroom window and saw Ms Wagtail in the nest. I slowly opened the window wider to get a shot but she flew away. After about an hour I noticed she was there again and I managed to get a photo. She kept a wary eye on me but remained in the nest this time. I do hope they get used to our bathroom window being open and seeing a camera lens emerge from time to time. We really do have ringside seats and we are looking forward to watching them raise their chicks.