Racing towards branching

Screenshots of the SWFL eaglets. E19 is eight weeks old, and E20 will be later today. (Post includes views of prey, but mostly old remains in the nest and not in focus)

E20 lying down, E19 standing at the nest rails a few days ago. They've gotten more steady and confident on their feet, and are interested in things going on outside the nest.

E19 wingers.

E20, too. The ventral coverts are still less developed than the dorsal ones, making the "inside" of the wing look more naked.

Preen preen. E20 left, E19 right.

E19, E20. Tracking something flying above the nest.

Napping at the nest rails. E20 awake.

And then E19.

Harriet at the nest with her big eaglets. E19 is self-feeding from a leftover piece of rabbit.

Harriet allopreens E19.

And E20.

E19 feeling the wind beneath her wings. E20 would prefer not to get stepped on during sibling's wing practice.

A short pause. Also mom's toes making an appearance in the top left corner.

Back to showing off that impressive wingspan!

E19 held her wings open for a while without flapping much, giving us a sharper view than is usual during wing exercise, since a lot of movement blurs the image. Thank you!

Still a few holes in the wing plumage, as seen in the middle of the left wing here.

Looking at E20 who's in the way.

And E19 (right) looking at the veranda branch. Is that where you were trying to get? They're old enough now that branching could begin any day. Before fledging, the eaglets will explore the nest tree and further practice flying by hopping between branches, and this is a likely spot for them to start with.
 

E20, E19.

Closeup of E20's back. Birds don't have pennaceous feathers growing out of every part of their body that's covered by feathers, as the feathers are long and stiff and shield the spots growing only down, too, but the Es' juvenile plumage is not complete yet, and the sides will fill in during the following week.

E19.

More wingers from E19. E20 is underfoot again.

E19 does look very interested in the veranda. :)

Wing exercises from E20, too!

E20 does a little rouse between wingers.

And as is appropriate after getting stepped on during E19's wing workout, E20 slaps E19 in the face with a wing.

Beaking afterwards.