May 20 4:00pm EDT


A good view of both eggs

6:00pm EDT

I've been watching the nest for the last two hours. Not once during that time did Mom incubate the eggs. She did move to stand at different places on the nest and kept a vigilant watch. I checked the temp at Woods Hole and it was a balmy 68° F and the eggs were in the sun the entire time. My guess is they stayed warm enough

About 5:30 Mom hopped up on the cross bar where she continued to keep watch



At 6:00pm Dad flew in - or I should say on Mom. He did not land on the nest at any time. I can only assume there was an actual mating as the cam froze.



When the cam returned to stream, Mom's expression was " well - what's your hurry!!!



Cam froze again and went completely off line for about 5 minutes.

Mom still on cross bar watching the world. Sun is off the eggs now.

7:30pm EDT

Dad arrives home. Mom still perched on cross bar



Dad immediately settles down to incubate eggs. Mom still perches on cross bar

May 21 600pm EDT

Dad flew in with a fish. Mom hopped down off the perch to take it. She flew off and Dad begin incubating. I will be surprised if these eggs hatch. I have yet to see Mom incubate. Every time I log on, she is watching over them, but never have I seen her covering them. The cam stream is so non- existent that it is not worth the time to try to watch through out the day, so I just check once in awhile. It is a beautiful image, but that's the problem, just a still image. To see a different image you have to reload and wait for a minute or two for the image to appear. I am surprised at the poor camera stream as they do have a well known foundation sponsoring the cam.

I'm surprised you're having trouble with the stream, BET. I've been watching it most days since they started building up the nest, and I do need to reload the page a couple of times a day, but most of the time it streams quite nicely. However, there have been times when I've had trouble connecting late in the day - so it may be that it's at the edge of its bandwidth limits by the time west coast folks are trying to log in. WHOI is indeed well-known - but I'm guessing a lot of their funding has dried up with all the cutbacks that are happening everywhere. Then again, I've been watching the cam for several years and this year's cam is so much better than their old one - and that my be coloring my perception.

I've also not seen the female incubate for more than a couple of minutes - and that only once or twice. If they're on the usual schedule, I'd expect another egg tomorrow - and if she starts incubating then, perhaps that one will hatch. I also have my doubts about the two current eggs - but perhaps we'll be pleasantly surprised!

PS - I mostly post about this cam on the Maine forum - link - it's where I first started watching the cam, and I don't always have time to post in both places.

Good morning!

Well, now that I posted about not having trouble with the cam, the action has stopped briefly several times this morning. Perhaps there are more people watching.

5:49 am
When I first looked in, the eggs were uncovered - and apparently alone. No adult in site. A couple of minutes later, Mom(?) arrived with a load of straw - apparently not her first as there seems to be more of it in the nest this morning. The ever-hopeful part of me is wondering if this means she's getting ready to incubate when the next egg comes (or at least getting ready to lay another egg).

Mom's off - and Dad just arrived with a stick. After putting it in place, he nestled down on the eggs. Now Mom's back with more straw. Dad's still on the eggs and not budging, so she decided to put the straw on him. At that point, he decided perhaps a departure was in order, so now he's left and she's rearranging the straw.

Today is the likely day for her to lay the third egg, and I am curious if she'll start incubating at that point. And, as luck would have it, I won't be near a computer most of the day. If anyone notices anything interesting, please do make a brief post. Thanks!

2:30 EDT

I logged on to Mom perched above, avoiding any contact with those eggs. Well, is it still eggs plural. I can not tell if the dark egg is broken, or if a new egg is broken, or if the white things are even shell from a broken egg. I leave it to you.

3:00pm EDT

Suddenly realized the cam was frozen. Refreshed to find the eggs have been moved. Dad had been brooding, I guess he left and Mom again returned to guard. It looks like two are intact, I do not know what the white to the left of the white egg is.