Varying catches of the day

More screenshots from the West End Bald eagle nestcam I've been following. Above are five-week-old chicks WE1, WE2, and WE3 today, in order of oldest to youngest left to right, looking around after a meal. Or, WE1 and WE3 are looking around, WE2 is taking a nap sitting up. But back to yesterday before more of today. Screenshots show prey, but not close up.

Wingers, accidental wing slaps, and critique that's not appreciated, with WE1 and WE3.

WE2 sitting up, WE1 (front) and WE3 (behind WE1) lying down.

Stretch to show how downy they still are under the wings.

And a look at WE2's back.

WE3 emerges, looking very "just woke up".

A pile. WE3 in the middle squeeing.

WE2, WE3, WE1 left to right/farthest to nearest.

Dad Akecheta brings a small fish.

WE3 rushes in to grab it... but drops it. Though WE3 does at least get a bite of something - guts hanging out of the fish? WE1 finds the rest of the fish on the nest floor and eats it.

WE2 and WE1 biting at dad's beak. "Is that all?"

Oldest to youngest l-r. Watching dad fly back after a while. He didn't bring anything, though.

WE1 and WE3. WE2 in in the lower left corner, trying to stay in dad's shadow.

WE2, WE3, WE1, I think.

That fish was the only new prey I noticed brought to the nest, but mom Thunder fed the chicks twice from an old leftover she dug up from the nest. WE1 ate the most as expected, and WE3 stayed away from the first feeding, surely knowing by now that hungry older siblings aren't polite or gentle about calling dibs on what little food there is, but eventually everyone got at least something. Edit: apparently I missed Thunder also bringing a small fish in the morning, and WE3 swallowing it whole, so the youngest didn't go as hungry that day as I had thought. Good job, WE3.

 

For breakfast the next morning, Thunder brings a big fish!

WE3 (left) gets first bites, and plenty of the subsequent ones, too. (One chick is behind Thunder here.)

Everyone looking for dropped fish pieces after the feeding. WE3 (front) is standing! And WE1 (middle) has a big crop.

WE2 has something, and is holding it with feet, though still while sitting. Not enough leg strength yet to pin food down like a big eagle. I'm not sure if WE2 got anything out of it, but it works as practice, too. WE1 and WE3 have moved on to preening.

Decent crop on WE2, too.

WE3 back, WE1 left, and WE2 on the right is stretching a wing.

Some back and profile comparisons, oldest to youngest l-r. Looking at those beak proportions, if WE1 is found out to be female at banding, I will not be surprised.

Thunder, WE3, WE2. Everybody saw Akecheta flying to the nest, so Thunder flew in, too, and the chicks are excited. What might he have brought?

More food! I think he brought another small fish already after breakfast, and WE3 ate it, but it was a bit hard to tell with that (camera was turned away, having been focused on where the eaglets were sitting). Here's a considerably bigger fish, which mom begins feeding to the chicks. WE3 currently being fed, WE2 behind mom, WE1 still staying out of it, not as hungry.

WE3 moves aside when WE1 joins the table, wary of bonks, but continues getting big bites, including quite boldly snatching up some that WE1 also reaches for. WE1 had to take care of some business and make room before going in to eat more. Despite yesterday not being the best food day, clearly the chicks have been getting enough food to have plenty of poop to shoot. Gross, but reassuring.

WE3 downs the fish tail. Little one ate well at this feeding.

WE1 and WE2.

Yes, WE3, you're here, too.