May 21, 2017 (Sunday)

Bel's Nest Log

Mom with a squirrel - photograph by JaniBop

(99 & 97 days). IR light off 6:30:42am. B8 perched & flaps wings on a tree back behind nest tree on the upper right side 6:36:39; a drenched B9 comes in under LB 6:36:53 and checks for nestovers; B9 to Y-nook 6:38:47; B8 flies off 6:36:59; B9 back to nest 6:39:51; B9 on nest squees 6:40:35; B9 out BD 6:41:58; B8 lands on back tree on the right side center of Cam 1 view 6:44:38, B8 leaves that tree 6:48:14 & lands on the 11:00-branch at 6:48:27 B8 to nest 6:48:50 and checks for nestovers; B8 to Y-nook 6:52:50; B8 to nest 6:53:58; B8 to RB 6:57:02; B8 back to nest 7:01:58 & lays down 7:02:13, then gets up 7:02:38; B8 rubs rear on nest 7:03:05 then lays back down; B8 gets up 7:05:27; B8 to 10:00-branch 7:05:43…B9 in FD 8:05:29; B8 flies by behind nest 8:05:38; B8 lands on tree behind nest (right center) 8:05:54; B9 to Y-nook 8:06:29; B9 to nest 8:07:50; B8 moves to diff branch 8:09:01 as B9 watches; B8 flaps on back tree (right behind Cam 2 branch) 8:09:42; B9 to 11:00-branch 8:11:02; D in BD w/squirrel 10:19:47; B8 in BD 10:20:13 & claims squirrel; D to RB 10:21:18, D rouses 10:10:22:38; then flies off 10:22:54; B8 digs beak into squirrel 10:34:53 then drags it around 10:35:07 & across nest10:35:44 then uses foot to hold it down 10:36:04; D in FD w/squirrel 10:55:12; D to RB 10:55:38; B9 in FD 10:55:43 & there's huge tussle over the squirrels (each ends up with a squirrel); D out 10:56:50; M in FD w/squirrel with third squirrel of the morning 11:00:40 & B9 claims it; M feeds B9 11:01:29; B9 tries to steal M's squirrel 11:02:08 and B8 walks over; B9 tugs on squirrel again 11:02:34; M gets out of the way 11:02:48; M preps middles squirrel 11:03:04 & feeds B8 11:03:37; B8 steals M's squirrel 11:05:38; M tries to take a squirrel 11:09:48 but B8 takes it back; M takes a squirrel from B8 11::28:59 & B9 fusses at her; M offers B9 a bite (to get some quiet?) 11:29:58; B9 steals M's squirrel 11:30:16 so M moves over to the squirrel B9 abandoned and once B9 quietens down again all 3 eat; M starts swallowing squirrel pelt 11:33:08 & finally gets it all down 11:34:04; M shakes head to keep pelt down 11:34:23; M out BD 11:37:22; B8 starts to swallow squirrel pelt 11:39:58…ends up w/squirrel tail hanging out; B8 to Y-nook to give us closer look at squirrel tail 11:42:45; B8 back to nest 11:44:55; B8 flies out BD w/squirrel tail still hanging out from beak 11:47:30; B8 in BD 6:30:48pm; B8 to Y-nook 6:38:51; B8 to nest 6:46:18; B8 picks up nestover squirrel 6:47:54 but doesn't really seem interested in eating; M in to LB 6:48:40 & B8 squees and mantles squirrel; M to nest 6:50:59 & B8 rushes her; B8 moves over to guard the squirrel 6:51:15 then moves back to Mom 6:51:29; M sidesteps around B8 6:51:43 & B8 grabs the squirrel 6:52:02; M moves over as if to feed 6:52:13 & B8 claims squirrel & then sarts to eat; M digs in nest 6:53:12; B8 moves squirrel to other side of nest 6:53:54; M looks at the squirrel & B8 puts a foot on it 6:57:18 then crowds M up onto the Y-nook 6:57:23; M shifts her weight & B8 goes into defense mode 6:58:58; M to nest 7:19:20; M gets too close to the squirrel & B8 beaks at her 7:19:39; M digs in nest 7:19:45; M takes a bites of squirrel 7:24:28; M goes back to digging in nest 7:27:10 as B8 chips & chitters; B8 moves over to Mom 7:28:57; M walks around B8 and claims squirrel 7:29:04; M swallows the pelt 7:29:10; B8 PS 7:30:29; B8 to LB 7:30:33 chittering; M to LB 7:32:22 & out 7:32:25; B8 fights sleep 7:40:44; B8 to nest 7:43:09; B8 out BD 7:43:26.