The arrival of our couple, virtually together, was first snapped @ 19:12
©SANDRA !!!
©RICHARD G B
©SHEENA
=====================================================
Yikes !!! I thought I must have missed it but it's all there waiting for attention :)))
Thank you, everyone, for the super captures and info :)
I can't believe they arrived together - but they did! ;-D
Three matings altogether, only the first successful, IMHO. They were on the nest nearly 13 minutes, this is cut down to 5 but no significant activity missing - you know how they like to stand and (males) mantle and (females) look a bit nonplussed ;)
UNCUT VERSION:
The first was the best ;)
He sat here for ages after his second nestcupping:
.
IMAGICAT
Louis arrived:
Just stood around in the wind, then flew:
Back again quickly followed by Aila, mating was difficult in the wind, lol:
Off he flew, back with some stringy stuff, sorry it's blurred:
Trying again with stringy stuff caught in his talons - when he flies up to mate the wind carries him away ;-D
Off he flew again:
Soon back with more of the stringy stuff, IMHO, but in a bunch this time:
Time for a rest:
Here we go again:
Back with a stick with leaves on (I could tell after it was landed) (now that the colour is getting denser a snap has to be resized down before it will load):
This was as far as the next mating attempt got:
Aila waited, then did a little nestorising:
Then off she flew:
Louis back with a sticky object in each foot - blurred out completely before landing:
Louis looking very hollow-cropped - not much hope for an early fish handover for Aila ;)
Then he flew off yet again and no-one has been seen since.