Osprey portrait in pen and ink.
The osprey family has been quite busy lately. The young birds have been practicing for their first flight.
The parents had been flying around the tower trying to entice the fledglings to take wing.
Then the heat came. We had seven straight days over 108 and it peaked at 116. It was way too hot in the nest tower!
This was the incentive to motivate the young osprey to fly. After the first day of extreme heat, they fled the tower.
Down along the river in the shady oak trees is where they took refuge.
When the heat settled down, back to the tower they went. After, being in the tree I thought they might not return to the tower. As it turns out they weren’t entirely ready to give up the nest.
They still want to roost there at night, and they know this is where they get fed. They are like teenagers that still depend on mom and dad.
The parents seem to debate each other whose turn it is to take care of the noisy offspring. They rarely go into the nest anymore unless they are dropping off a fresh fish meal.
That is one FINE pen and ink work of art! Bravo! Thanks for these great updates! Z
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Thank you Z.
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Wonderful, Tim. I particularly like the photo of the bird cooling himself on the tower.
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I’m glad you enjoyed it Julie. I’m not sure how well that position worked. I think shade would have been better.
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Great drawing Tim and beautiful pictures. So funny the young fellows who don’t want to leave home!
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Thank you. I would think they would be out exploring the world, but they still want to hang out at the nest.
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That’s what our children do sometimes lol..!
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Indeed!
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Wonderful!
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Thank you Meta.
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Tim,
Your captions are so fun! Wonderful drawing too! I especially liked the photo showing the “cool position.” It was unique.
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Thank you Linda. It was an unusual sight. I guess it didn’t want to leave the young ones alone, but wow was it hot! I will email you today about the post for next week.
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Thanks very much. Looking forward to it!
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Excellent pen and ink work, Tim. I love especially the eye and detail work on the wing. Thank you for the update, have been wondering if they left the nest. They’ll be out building their own nests in a few years, meanwhile getting into trouble at every turn (however birds do that!). Awesome shots, thanks
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Thank you Scott. I was trying out a new set of pens and was pretty happy with them. The birds are still hanging out at the nest. They haven’t learned how to fish on their own just yet.
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Tim this is beautiful.
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Thanks Doug, nice of you to stop by.
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They’re so lovely; it’s been great watching them grow through your posts 🙂 The shot in the trees is fantastic!
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Thank you Zest. I was lucky with the shot in the tree. I was able to sneak very very close. 🙂
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Just like a kid, wasn’t it. I think the free lunches are about over. The drawing is wonderful. I love the pen and ink effect.
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Thanks Ruth. I know, just when you think they’re gone, they come back!
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Great images Tim! Your sketch is fantastic too. Thanks for all the updates on progress at the tower nest!
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Thanks Susan. It’s been fun following their progress.
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Fantastic pen and ink drawing! Enjoyed reading your update on the tower nest.
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Thank you Mary. I keep thinking that they will be completely done soon, but this morning they are still up in the tower.
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Thank you – a fine drawing, fine photos and a fine post!
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Thank you so much Helen!
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I missed seeing the osprey. I used to live in Florida where they were commonly seen around the high ways. Absolutely great drawing Tim! !
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Thank you Ilex. Do you have them around your lakes or rivers?
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They are endangered here. There were 7 birds just released last weekend in a county next to mine to try to boost the population. I’ve never seen one here, but I will look for them now!
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That is cool that they released some nearby. We have more birds here than Carter has pills!
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Your pen and ink work is great! I have never seen ospreys this up close. Thanks for the article!
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Thank you so much Andelieya.
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Love the drawing and the update!
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Thank you Elena!
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Love you artwork!!!!! Love the Osprey family story….how neat to watch their behavior…!
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Thank you so much Suzanne! It’s has been fun to follow along this season.
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
I’VE NEER SEEN OSPREYS THIS CLOSE-UP!!!
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I’ve been lucky to get so close to them.
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well, the point is we had to get out of our sanctuary or comfort zone and facing the real world…
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Indeed!
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What beautiful artwork! This Osprey family has been so fun to follow with you. I wouldn’t want to leave a handsome looking nest like the one they have either, especially if mom and dad keep coming back with food. Teenagers! 🙂
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Thank you Megan. They are teenage osprey I believe. They get the free goodies, but all they do is complain. It’s like they think they are owed the royal treatment. Kind of like a certain gray feline we know!
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Well Teddy, teenagers and growing osprey are cut from the same cloth, apparently!
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Apparently! 😉
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Great photographs and I love your pen and ink portrait!
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Thank you so much!
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Your inkwork! :)))
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Thank you so much Divya!
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Nice work with that beautiful bird.
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Thank you Lyle.
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what an incredible world you live in! so much exciting inspiration around you. you ink drawings are beautiful, so much care and thought. Thanks for stopping by my blog too.
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Thank you Meegan. I am fortunate and I have great appreciation for that.
I love your free flowing style. It is always fun to see what others are doing. I will have to spend some more time at your blog.
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i feel the same about yours – will visit more often too!
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😀
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I love this photo diary, Tim – it’s just excellent photography, & love what you write. That ‘cool position’ he’s trying to assume – animals make me laugh!! 🙂
Really stunning stuff.
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Thank you so much Noeleen. 😀
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Wonderful, wonderful drawing! Thank you so much for sharing this story I would have never seen, here. I get to watch the young robins return to nest in my pine tree where their nest is too small for them any longer. They are practicing flying and it has become rather noisy in my backyard, daily.
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A wonderful noise no doubt. Thanks you Leslie.
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Excellent work, love it
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Thank you Mike
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Great photos and awesome narrative! I love the pen and ink portrait, too.
Thank you for sharing 🙂
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What a lovely family? Ospreys are so rare in the UK, but one pair breeds in the smallest county of Rutland and their progress is followed avidly by nature-lovers hereabouts. You are very lucky to have them so close. A magnificent bird and you have captured them and their lives wonderfully. 🙂
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Thank you so much Maxine.
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Do you draw birds an awful lot? I love birds, and I love drawing– what a perfect combination! 😀 And do you draw with only pen-and-ink?
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I suppose I do draw birds a lot. They are a good subject to do. I also have some other wildlife to post. I do prefer pen and ink, and watercolor. I always like the strong contrast with pen and ink over pencil. I do some pencil work, but mostly pen and ink, and watercolor.
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Ooh! Watercolor! I’m just starting to get into watercolor myself. 😀 It’s great fun. And so is pen-and-ink….I’m working on an illustration in pen and ink right now for a book. It’s so enjoyable!
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I look forward to seeing some of your illustrations. 🙂
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Thank you, sir! I look forward to drawing them!
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Love the pen & ink of the Osprey and the photograph too. Not doing so much myself now as arthritis rampant, but love to see your stuff.
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Thanks you so much. I’m sorry to hear about the arthritis. I hope you have a way to find some relief.
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Gorgeous! kudos~
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Thank you Cindy!
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Lovely pictures and fantastic pen and ink sketch of the eagle
superb
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Thank you so much!
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absolutely superb dear Tim
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