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Public
Cheeseness

I haven't spotted them, but I saw an adult butcherbird enter the nest with some breakfast this morning, so the chicks must've hatched \o/

An adult butcherbirds seen between wattle leaves feeds an unseen chick in its nest
The adult butcherbird settling down in the nest after feeding their young
Public
Cheeseness

Baby wattlebirds have left their nest too!

A baby yellow wattlebird pokes its head out above the leaves of a field maple tree
One of the baby yellow wattlebird's parents drinks from a field maple flower
The baby yellow wattlebird seen from below with its emerging wattle and tongue visible
The baby yellow wattlebird reaching out to lick a flower
Cheeseness

And almost all the bably lapwings are nearly grown up now (the family with 4 babies left the park I visit after the recent storms - I hope they just found somewhere better to be)

A juvenile masked lapwing standing in short grass next to a rusty piece of farm equipment
An adult masked lapwing keeps a look out while one of its nearly grown up chicks warily wanders around
The previous juvenile masked lapwing with one of its siblings, walking through short grass near a footpath and two dandelion flowers
Oct 17, 2024, 12:24 AM·Public·Web
9boosts·24favorites
Public
Cheeseness

Saw more babies today. Lapwings conserving energy as the days start to warm up, the little yellow wattlebird still incessantly asking for food, and most excitingly, I got my first glimpse of my magpie family's new baby - not quite out of the nest yet, but very very close!

A pair of juvenile masked lapwings in front of a water maintenance access point on a grassy strip. The one on the left is sitting on the ground resting, with its beak tucked back in behind its shoulder. The other is standing before settling in to rest too
The baby yellow wattlebird from previous photos, looking down at the camera from high up in a tree
An Australian magpie nest high in a wattle tree. The silhouette of a chick can be seen standing on its edge looking down
Public
Cheeseness

Didn't see the magpie chick this evening. I think it's still in the nest. I did get my first glimpse of one of the baby butcherbirds (I think there are two) during feeding time. Both parents were attending today, and appeared to be sharing food between them to both take feeding duty.

A nest seen through wattle leaves, with adult butcherbirds standing on either side, looking down at their young. Just barely in view, a gaping maw pokes out from some light brown fuzz toward the parent on the right.
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Cheeseness

This morning was the morning for babies! Baby wattlebird asking for a feed, baby butcherbird soaking up some morning sun (still hasn't opened its eyes), and at last, I got to meet my magpie family's newest member, this little cutie

A baby yellow wattlebird looks up and begs for food from an out-of-frame parent
A baby butcherbird lifts its head above the rim of its nest, eyes not yet open, and a little mohawk of baby fluff on top
A baby Australian magpie stands in a garden bed under a tree, looking toward the camera
That same baby Australian magpie standing upright in short grass, seen through a gap in a tree's leaves
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Cheeseness

Here's a video of the baby butcherbird repositioning itself in the nest. In the previous photo, there are some hints of wattle on the chin - I don't know if that's normal for butcherbirds or if we're looking at a brood parasite

Edit: Or maybe it's just a couple of twigs in the foreground?

Public
Cheeseness

Hung out with the little one for a bit this morning ^_^

A baby Australian magpie in an overgrown garden bed seen from behind. Blades of grass poking up through the mulch droop onto its head and back
That same baby Australian magpie turned around to inspect the grass
The baby Australian magpie turns to look over its shoulder back toward the camera after stepping out into the sun
The baby Australian magpie with a wing out to steady itself as it stmbles around on a pile of mulch
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Cheeseness

Breakfast from mum

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Cheeseness

Couple more baby photos from last night

A baby Australian magpie looks over its shoulder down toward the camera from high in a tree
A baby wattlebird on a horizontal branch begs for food from an adult (who doesn't have any)
Public
Cheeseness

Hung out with my tiny friend this morning for a bit and got some more glimpses as the baby butcherbirds (pretty convinced now that there's two)

A baby Australian magpie leans forward on a lichen covered branch, preparing to hop to another
That same baby Australian magpie with wings outstretched to balance itself as it sidles along a branch
A butcherbird nest seen through wattle leaves. On the right, a raised head with a beak and fluff can be made out
That same butcherbird nest, where this time an adult can be seen on the left, with a tiny beak reaching up toward it. On the right is the previously raised head
Public
Cheeseness

I love these days, watching their personalities start to emerge. This one spends more time in trees than its older siblings did, and is a lot quieter/more relaxed than the last chick (who still doesn't feel comfortable when I'm around ;_; )

A baby Australian magpie leans back to look past the tree stump it's on to look at the camera
The baby Australian magpie seen past tall grass, begging for food from its Dad with open beak and hungry wings
The baby Australian magpie standing in the morning sun with its eyes closed
The bby Australian magpie standing on a pile of mulch, just behind its Dad
Public
Cheeseness

I also spotted the baby's grown up siblings (the youngest is on the left at the beginning of this, and still has some juvenile grey on its chest) mucking around this morning. Playtime isn't just for little ones

Public
Cheeseness

Got some nice shots of the little one, as well as Mum and Dad this evening

A baby Australian magpie in a wattle tree, golden light from the evening sun, glinting off its beak and eye as it looks toward the out-of-frame sunset
The baby Australian magpie from a slightly different angle that is less silhouetted, but has more of a glow on its baby bird fuzz
The baby Australian magpie's Dad looking at the camera past a tree branch toward the camera, intently, but not unkindly
The baby Australian magpie's Mum stands on a tree stump, looking into the distance with a thousand yard stare (she's taking the evening shift looking after the little one while Dad is off preening)
Public
Cheeseness

The little one is already flying so well. What a little champ (they did a very ungraceful dismount out of the tree first, but we'll pretend I didn't see that)

A baby Australian magpie lit by golden evening sun high in a tree, looking upward before leaping to another branch
The baby Australian magpie flying across a dimming sky, wings raised above its little body and stubby tail
Another shot of the baby Australian magpie flying lower in front of trees over more sand-coloured sky,beginning to raise its wings following a downbeat
The baby Australian magie perched on a rooftop, silhouetted against the evening sky
Public
Cheeseness

Morning stretchtimes

A baby Australian magpie on a leafless brach, stretching its wings back behind hits head
That same baby Australian magpie standing tall with head lowered to stretch its legs and back
The baby Australian magpie stretching its right wing
The baby Australian magpie stretching its left wing
Public
Cheeseness

Still enjoying the company of the little one immensely I also spotted some courting going on a couple of days ago (never seen that in a tree before) and spotted the nest being spruced up this evening. It'll be exciting to have two chicks again (it's been a few years!)

A baby Australian magpie sits on the end of dead branch in the evening sun
The baby Australian magpie looking past a branch and some leaves toward the camera
An adult female Australian magpie gathering feathers and soft debris for nest repairs
A pair of adult Australian magpies mating on a thin branch high in a tree
Public
Cheeseness

Got a better look at the baby butcherbirds this evening, who are now visibly butcherbird-ish (turns out there are two little beaks here, and a third off to the left that's not visible). Another yellow wattlebird family has a baby too. The baby magpie came up very close to me this evening, which was super nice. They were very hungry and spent a long time shouting at adults before Mum showed up with dinner

A baby blackbird seen through wattle leaves as it stands up in its nest above another sibling. It has a white breast and darker feathers on its head and wings. Baby fluff pokes out above its eyes
An adult wattlebird in a gum tree looks up at its fluffy baby on a higher branch, both lit by bright yellow early evening sunlight
A baby Australian magpie stands on short grass very close to the camera
The baby Australian magpie standing on a piece of playground equipment, mouth open as its mother leans in with a beak full of arachnid
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Cheeseness

Learning to forage with Dad

A baby Australian magpie and its Dad standing next to a piece of playground equipment on a sunny day. The baby has its beak open, begging for food
The baby Australian magpie in the shade, leaning down to look for noms among the woodchips of a playground
The baby Australian magpie and its Dad standing in short grass. Dad is listening for insects while the baby begs for food
The baby Australian magpie foraging for noms on the ground while Dad forages a short distance away
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Cheeseness

Practice makes perfect

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Cheeseness

I chose to not include the babies in this shot. Their bodies lie nearby after being moved off the road. If you drive a car, be careful and mindful of the power you wield. If you can't handle that, don't drive.

A pair of adult masked lapwings stand next to each other at the base of a small tree, next to a small cluster of yellow flowers
Public
Cheeseness

I didn't see my baby magpie friend this morning, but I did see this pair of baby yellow wattlebirds. I'm not sure if one is the one I've photographed before or whether there's a second family at the opposite end of the park with two chicks. They both seemed very interested in me.

A pair of yellow wattlebird chicks in a tree, looking down toward the camera
That same pair of yellow wattlebird chicks seen from a different angle. The highest one cranes its neck to look past some leaves toward the camera, while the lower one pulls its neck in so that it can see under the other's tail
Both yellow wattlebird chicks looking sidewise toward the camera
Public
Cheeseness

Saw the little one this evening, hanging out in a tree. Look at those little feets

A baby Australian magpie sitting on a branch
The silhouetted feet of a baby Australian magpie standing on a thin branch. The right claws clasp the branch tightly, while the other foot is spread open. Ragged ends on the tail feathers are visible - likely signs of wear and tear from less-accurate flying/landing
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Loren

@Cheeseness oh my god I love them. Look at them swing!

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Cheeseness

@loren They're the best. Just before I started recording, the youngest was climbing up/hanging from the chain while the other two were playing peekaboo in the seat

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Loren

@Cheeseness incredible. What a fun moment you captured!

Public
Cheeseness

@loren Dunno if you ever saw this one, but a few years back, I got some fun shots of the two eldest from that video and an older sibling chasing each other around a tree trunk and playing keep away with a leaf, which completely obscured their vision when picked up mastodon.social/@Cheeseness/10

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