Practice Makes Perfect, and so does a bop on the head

 Mom? Dad? Are you coming back?

 Eagle parents have left baby largely on his own since Thursday

 Eaglet's been spending its time balancing

 And grooming

And waiting

 And balancing

 And waiting-- the parents swing by with a piece of fish from time to time,

 But they only stay a few minutes 

 More practicing

 And waiting 

 Pulling on feathers

 And yelling back at the Osprey, who still want their nest back

 And posing

 Most beautifully

 Before taking a lap around  the stand of trees

 And even crossing the bridge

 Wow!

And reports are that eaglet has had enough bullying, and bopped the osprey on the head and chased it away!!

Baby needs a nap

Poor baby is just so tired, what with practicing landing, flying and fending off those bully osprey.

Sometimes you just can't keep your eyes open

 Soooooo sleeepppyy........

Baby has an itch and an attitude

It's been a big week for baby. There have been some practice flights in the nesting area and even across the big scary bridge and over the Bay. The osprey still haven't given up their war against the eagles. The Bald Eagle parent and the Osprey had an in-sky fight, talons out. And today the Osprey attacked the Eaglet in flight. Baby skeddadled back into the trees.

 

  Then Baby had a good old scratch.

Hey, take a picture. It will last longer.

Practice, practice, practice

 OK, it's Saturday here, no construction going on, and eaglet has moved to the very tiptop of the parents' lookout tree. Great view of the Causeway, the Gulf, the Bay...a million dollar view.

Problem is, it's the very very tippy-top of all the trees.

 Now what?

 Mom? Dad?

A try, but no go... eaglet was still there when I left.

 Sunday. Baby is in the nest tree, but on a higher up branch......uh oh, Osprey alert!

 Eaglet is especially interested in all the boaters and laughing, screaming children on the sandbars below

 Dad is watching out for those pesky Osprey who STILL want their nest back.

This is the first time I've ever seen a Bald Eagle look downright cuddly!

Dine and Dash

 MOMMOMMMOMOMMOMOMOMOMMMM I'M HUNGRYYYYYYY!!!

 Well, I was unprepared for this landing!

Snapper? Grouper?

Full Belly, Time to practice flying.

We have lift off!!

 

Uh Oh, now how do I get home????

Here we go...... blast off!!!

Good News!

 Jump for joy!

 Spreading the news!

The tumor was Grade 1, so the surgery should have taken care of it.
Whew!

Backyard egret

Camera class field trip

This beautiful Blue Heron was on a rooftop near the south Lighthouse

 Looks like he is practicing his yoga

 Then he got an itch

Much better!