Post by @Cheeseness@mastodon.social

Earlier in the month, I mentioned a butcherbird nest ( https://mastodon.social/@Cheeseness/117385167599372983 ). I got my first glimpse of the chicks this morning. A silent wide mouthed trio, with a clear dominant sibling
#photography #birds

4 media files

Three baby butcherbirds in a nest, seen through a gap between leaves. On the left, one stands on the rim of the nest, looking out . In the middle on the far side, another looks away from the camera with their eyes closed. On the right, a third has their head tilted upward, ready just in case breakfast arrives unexpectedly

The three baby butcherbirds in their nest. The leftmost chick is flapping their little wings and leaning forward. They don't appear quite ready to leave the nest, but they're exercising the muscles they'll need. The rightmost chick is now fasting left, seemingly more alert than before. The middle chick is still facing away with their eyes closed

The leftmost chick is now standing at full height, leaning forward wings outstretched. The rightmost chick has their mouth open, begging (they're babies - don't read too much into it). The middle chick is mostly obscured, but still has their eyes closed, with their beak now pointing straight up - perhaps their head is lolling while they sleep

The baby butcherbirds again. The left chick is preening their teeny flight feathers. The rightmost chick still has their beak open, but no longer appears to be begging. Their sibling is asleep back in their earlier pose

#birds #photography

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Cheeseness

@Cheeseness@mastodon.social last wk.

Here's a photo from just prior , when an adult was dropping off breakfast - the middle chick is wide away and alert. I guess once their parent was gone, they knew the excitement was over.
#photography #birds

Three baby butcherbirds in a nest, being tended to by an adult, whose larger form and beak can be seen past leaves. The leftmost chick is up on the rim of the net facing away, crouched low. The middle and rightmost chicks are staring intently up at their parent, who is about to fly away

Cheeseness

@Cheeseness@mastodon.social 7 days ago

Was worried for a sec, but I think they were just having a little rest
#photography #birds

2 media files

A baby butcherbird lying with their head dangling over the edge of their nest

That same baby butcherbird seen from below - they're conscious and perk up a little (waiting for breakfast delivery is tiring work!)

Cheeseness

@Cheeseness@mastodon.social 6 days ago

Wee babby butcherbirds are very cute
#photography #birds

2 media files

A baby butcherbird sitting in their nest, shaded from the morning sun by leaves, looking toward the camera

Another baby butcherbird in the same nest, brightly lit by the morning sun

Cheeseness

@Cheeseness@mastodon.social 5 days ago

Only spotted two in the nest this morning. I'm suspecting these are the two smaller butcherbirds and their older sibling has fledged
#photography #birds

2 media files

A pair of baby butcherbirds in a nest, both crouched along the edge. The one on the left looks directly toward the camera

A slightly closer shot of the leftmost baby butcherbird, looking directly down their beak at the camera

~3 more replies

Cheeseness

@Cheeseness@mastodon.social 4 days ago

Time to leave the nest!
#photography #birds

4 media files

A baby butcherbird rests low on a branch in the shade, eyes partly closed

Another baby butcherbird sitting low on a higher branch, leaning forward to look down at the camera

A third baby butcherbird, sleeping on the edge of their nest in dappled light filtering through leaves

The first baby butcherbird turned to look toward the camera

Cheeseness

@Cheeseness@mastodon.social 3 days ago

Little ones moving further away from the nest this morning. One was still in the nest, and I didn't manage to get a good shot. Last two photos here are from yesterday (final one has all three visible - can you spot them?)
#photography #birds

4 media files

A baby butcherbird on a branch, seen from below as they look around the tree they're sitting in

A baby butcherbird in a tree, looking up at a branch they're intending to hop to

A baby butcherbird from the day before begs for food from a parent visiting the nest

A photo from the day before where two baby butcherbirds are visible out on branches, while the third is still in the nest

Cheeseness

@Cheeseness@mastodon.social 2 days ago

I didn't see baby butcherburd number 3 this morning - possibly still sleeping in the nest again. The other two seem pretty comfortable moving out into their tree (I assume they're staying where ever they were last fed, but increased mobility means they're moving to where their parents land)
#photography #birds

4 media files

A pair of baby butcherbirds sitting on a branch, shaded by the wattle tree's canopy of phyllodes. The rightmost chick is obscured by branches and twigs

Both baby butcherbirds, seen from another angle. The chick on the left is standing, while the other sits low on their branch

The left baby butcherbird seen from below. Their stubby baby tail feathers and cute brow fluff are visible

The right chick seen from below, light glinting off their eye

Cheeseness

@Cheeseness@mastodon.social last wk.

I also spied a baby wattlebird that I hadn't realised was out and about (pretty sure their parent is in the post linked to at the top of this thread)
#photograhy #birds

4 media files

A baby yellow wattlebird peers out from behind the main branch of a lichen covered tree

The baby yellow wattle bird now emerged, standing on a thin steep branch, looking left

The baby yellow wattle bird craning their neck forward and to the right to warily peer toward the camera

The baby yellow wattle bird looking left again, from a slightly different angle that allows them to be seen brighter/clearer

Cheeseness

@Cheeseness@mastodon.social last wk.

And a few buzzgirls, why not
#photography #bees

2 media files

A pollen encrusted honeybee visits a yellow capeweed flower

Another pollen-covered honebee, mid flight toward another yellow flower

Cheeseness

@Cheeseness@mastodon.social last wk.

Birdtaur
#photography #birds