Surrey Reserve 2018-2019 Observation and Discussion

[Kitcat11848]

No takers; they already have big crops

Sur holding the same piece of prey in his beak for 10 minutes as Dee and Ess just look on

[Kitcat11848]

Ess moves to the other side of the nest to join Dee; funny, looks like he was giving Sur and the food a wide birth. Sur finally decides the kids aren’t going to eat so turns and flies off. Vocals can be heard in the background.
20:17 pm

At least there is food on the nest. Late here so calling it at night.

[gemini]

9:19 pm Went back on the DVR to JudyB's last post and before Sur's visit at 7:49 pm as reported by Kitkat, Res came in with something at 7:30 pm and fed both chicks (which would account for them not being very hungry when Sur arrived.) until just before she left by way of her perch at 7:42. (note hanging foot!) Both chicks ate very well!

7:50 pm I must say we won't have any problem telling Sur and Res apart for awhile! Just look at that tail on Sur!

Both kids very content at the moment

[nightowl]

FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2019

[IrishEyes]

Good Morning everyone and thanks nightowl for starting the day here

Weather Report

4:17a
Both cams are streaming and one of the kids is awake

I checked the DVR back to gemini's post and no new nest visits that I saw

[SueD]

5:03 a.m.: Eaglets wingersizing this morning.
5:06 a.m.: Good side-by-side comparison of the two eaglets.
5:09 a.m.: Eaglet on our left is breakfasting on nestovers.

[SueD]

5:12-5:13 a.m.: Parent arrives with a piece of prey, eaglet on our left snatches it, then continues squealing at parent until parent flies off. Eaglet on our right watches as its sibling eats the piece of prey, but doesn't seem interested in trying to steal it.

[SueD]

5:43 a.m.: Eaglet that's been self-feeding did a healthy poo shoot.

[JudyB]

Good morning, everyone, and thanks for all the great reports! I was able to see a bit of the feeding by Mom from last night on the dvr - she is definitely looking good and adapting well to her injured leg - the instinct to care for her eaglets must be very strong.

Sue, I think it was Dee who got the food in your series of pictures at 5:12-5:13 am, and I think it was Sur that delivered it. Both of the adult's feet look OK, and I didn't see the white stripes that show up on Res's lower back - but most of the adult markers are trickier in black and white. It's funny how the eaglets will squeal at the parents - at this age it's hard to tell if it's a "feed me" squeal or a "get off my nest" squeal!

It's now 7:55 am, and I've looked back on the dvr to Sue's posts and haven't seen any visits or unusual activity.

The North cam is streaming nicely, but I'm going to reboot it so it will be easier to look back on the dvr.

[JudyB]

While I'm in the cam....

This is Dee - I'm noticing how much darker his/her tail feathers look than what I think are wing feathers. Both are still growing, and it could just be the angle and the light that makes the wings look lighter.

And here's a look at Dee's head.

[JudyB]

And this is a little closer than I planned to get to Ess's tail - the controls on the cam tend to stick and then jump. But it's nicely in focus, and we don't often have closeups of feathers, so

This is more what I was trying to get, showing that Ess's tail also appears darker than his/her other feathers.

And it took a while to get a look at anything but the top of his/her head - but here's an eye and beak.

[BETHINB.C.]

Good morning everyone, I was able t get a peek at Sur bringing in the last prey ( the one with all the blood ), I wonder what it would be to be so bloody? I know he brought another bloody one a few days ago and his tail was also red then. I am so happy to see Res, she sure is a good mom. Judy, I love the head and tail shots this morning and yes, the tail feathers do look a lot darker than the body feathers. I think both Dee and Ess seem quite full at the moment. I will be away this morning so will read up when I get back. Have a great day all and bye for now.

[gemini]

11:07 am Checked the DVR back to last post and no visits from a parent.


And here's a really nice scap of them showing their body shape - unfortunately, I was unable to make out which eaglet is which even after seeing their tails! Can't get close enough.

And I am out for the day - friend's birthday celebration.

[JudyB]

11:42 am
No visits since your post, gemini, and have a nice afternoon!

Pixelated, so I'm going to reboot North.

Beth, I've also been wondering about the bloody deliveries. I know that some of the eagles nesting on the Channel Islands off the coast of southern California bring in seal placentas, which are kind of messy. I have no idea if there are seals in Semiahmoo Bay, or when they would give birth if there are - but it's a thought.

[Kitcat11848]

Hi Judy, I Googled whether there are seals in Semiahmoo Bay, and there are. Having watched the Channel Island nests, especially Sauces, I too wonder if that was a seal placenta. I’m just not sure when the seals deliver in the Bay area. Whatever it was, it was definitely bloody.

[JudyB]

Thanks, Marianne - following your lead, I did a quick search for seal pups and found an article about a couple of them being rescued in July a few years ago - which makes me think they might be born in June, though I have no clue how long it takes them to reach maturity - and since I need to be careful to not spend too much time on the computer, I'll wait and see if other folks have more information.

Checked the dvr and rebooted the North cam.

And here's Res, with food! 1:02 pm

I saw something large fly by right after she landed, so someone else may have been after what she brought. I think it's Dee that's busy mantling the item - not sure what it is - will check back when the visit is over.


I think Ess says she's supposed to bring two food items - one for each!

[JudyB]

Now I'm second guessing myself - I saw her limp when she first arrived, and I see the white stripes, but it's looking like she has some weight on her right foot, and it's looking not swollen.

Ess has gotten quite aggressive towards her a couple of times - once really in her face. I'll go back for a picture of that after the visit is over.

I'm going to try to log into the cam for a closer look at her foot.

[SueD]

1:11 p.m.: Res is in the nest with Dee and Ess. I'm not sure which eaglet is which. The one in front is mantling and squealing, while the one next to Res is squealing, demanding to be fed (I think), but it's not happening.
1:15-1:16 p.m.: Closeup of Res's feet and the non-mantling eaglet. The other eaglet is self-feeding on the prey.

[SueD]

1:20 p.m.: Res took off right after I took this screenshot. The eaglet in front is still self-feeding on the prey. (Judy, I feel certain this is Res. She hobbled a bit as she turned to take flight.)
1:26 p.m.: Attempt at a steal. Assuming Dee is the one who's been mantling and self-feeding, then it's Ess attempting the steal. Didn't work!
1:31 p.m.: Ess is hovering, keeping close watch as Dee eats some stringy part of the prey.

[JudyB]

Thanks for the screenshots, Sue! I checked tailfeathers and it is Dee who has the food item, which seemed to be some sort of small animal. Here are a couple of additional pictures of Res's foot.

I do like how Ess worked his/her way into the picture here!

Right after that, Ess grabbed the feathers on Mom's sore leg - which is when Res moved her foot back a bit.

[JudyB]

Looking back - here is Res coming in with the food item - maybe a squirrel?

I did see an adult eagle fly by from left to right just before she came in from the right, and I think that was probably her.

And here are a couple of blurry shots of the large bird that was following her:

My guess is a juvenile eagle - I've watched several times, and only have an impression - which is that it was roughly as large as her, and had some light areas but I didn't see bright white.


The video shows Mom flying by then coming in with food with someone hot on her tail, then pauses until she starts moving on the nest so we can see that she's moving a bit better.

Res Delivers!

[JudyB]

Here's another brief video of Ess being a noisy little brat because s/he didn't get the food! It was intended as a look at Mom Res's leg, since she was being polite and staying on the nest - but Ess had other ideas! Charlie suggested posting this on Facebook, which I think I will also do.

Little Brat (30 seconds)

Subtitle - Patient Mom

[BETHINB.C.]

Thanks for the video Judy and all of your pots, I looked back and I think it was a squirrel Res brought to the nest,ans yes something was in hot pursuit of her and the prey..lol. Res is looking as if to say Ha Ha, its mine, you lose...lol.

You know, I never even thought of placenta but that would probably be it. it could be from a deer or something too? I know one thing for sure it sure was messy.

I just got back so I must go finish up my chores. I will be back later and ty for all posting.

[BETHINB.C.]

Had to watch your video, BOY! Res's leg is starting to look pretty good, she is also putting more weight on it.. That little eaglet sure is sweet...lol. the way he tucks his/her head in to make sure to see whats going on...lol. Love it...

[Marg]

Here's another brief video of Ess being a noisy little brat because s/he didn't get the food! It was intended as a look at Mom Res's leg, since she was being polite and staying on the nest - but Ess had other ideas! Charlie suggested posting this on Facebook, which I think I will also do.

Little Brat (30 seconds)

Subtitle - Patient Mom

Hi Judy, that video was good catch! I saw it on FB

(have to go battery lo on computer).

[JudyB]

Thanks, Marg and Beth! And I have no idea if there are deer in that area. There are a lot of houses or condos or whatever they are - but there also seems to be some woods. Definitely a question for someone who knows the area better than I do.

3:33 pm
Quick delivery by Sur - who still has a very red tail!

It looks like a fish, and I think Ess got it.

I tried to get a clear picture of tail feathers and had no luck with that, though I saw them flash by enough to be pretty sure it was Ess who was eating. Also, the one who didn't have the food wasn't lurking and trying to grab it - and Dee worked a long time on the squirrel(?) and I think ended up getting a good meal for his/her work, so I wouldn't expect Dee to be as hungry right now as Ess.

It's now 3:48 pm and the meal is over and the eaglets are standing around and looking out and occasionally preening.

[BETHINB.C.]

Aww... Who couldn't love that face...lol. Love the video Judy and Marg..

[Kitcat11848]

Here are some photos of a Harbour seal and pup with placenta showing gulls and eagles going after it

www.fws.gov/news/blog/index.cfm/2015/5/ ... -the-Crowd
Also here is a map for the northeast US coast so I assume Surrey area wouldn’t be much different

[JudyB]

Thanks, Marianne - it does look as if there could be seal placentas available in BC now, so that is probably what Sur brought in.


Looking back....

Sur was in at 4:40 pm with some sort of mammal.

Abstract art - Sur's red tail, and a rush of eaglets.

There's an ear at the bottom of the screen, and maybe you can get a sense of the size of the food object.

Dee on the left (I think) dragged it over his/her way, but Res is interested in the other end.

[JudyB]

It looks as if Dee got the first dibs on this item, but Ess is watching closely, and is good at snatching if s/he is hungry.

Dee steps back, and Ess goes for the food.

It was a fairly large object - nice to see both getting some!