Nesting Diaries
Drove by the check to see if I saw any activity. There is some new damage to the old wharf that was not there last year, but Nest is still there. I saw no new signs of Nest "freshening" or any Osprey in the area as of yet.
Female was in the nest, Male was gathering fresh nesting material from nearby marsh/woods when we arrived. At one point two different fisherman in two different low, little skiffs set up within 50 feet of the nest and this seemed to cause both Osprey some agitation. The male began circling overhead rather low, and the female continuously sat up and spread her wings in flapping motion while being extremely vocal. The other two Osprey in a nest behind them were further away, and didn't really react.
4/29/23 - Female was in the nest. I could see "discarded" fish through the lens. I through I saw a chicks head a couple times directly behind her. Will have to set up stronger lens on another day, was hoping male would bring fish so I could verify, and although he was in flight on the river nearby, he didn't catch one while I was there. Witnessed a "new" occupied nest I had not noticed/not been reported before directly behind this one within 150 feet. Location of both: North Landing River, under the Pungo Ferry Bridge.
Female sitting in the nest - never left or moved while I was there, Male was spotted fishing a little way down North Landing River. Updated Photos today.
3/29/23 Female & Male present in the nest / area. 56 degrees, sunny.
3/8/23 Nest has been built back at some point since desecration. I saw no fresh sticks or twigs added to nest as of today, however. Will check back in a few weeks.
04/03/2018 by Charlie
Occupied by two birds today.
9:11am Osprey caught fish and perched on snag across river from nest.
9:09am: Osprey perched at this nest briefly. Total of 4 ospreys in this area from 9am-10:15am. 2 were on small/early nest at channel marker 43.
05/11/2016 by Charlie
Nest still active. Osprey sitting on nest.
04/16/2016 by Charlie
Nest has been built. A late start but appears to be active. One osprey was near the nest on another piling.
This nest was removed last year and returning pair has chosen another location (TBD)
Nest was removed by ??. First visit I noticed the nest was gone. Checked to see when the pair would return and saw them one time on March 14th but never started nest.
All gone for this year. Last seen was one of the fledglings on 9/02/14 near the nest. All are gone.
No Osprey seen today at or near nest site.
Yesterday only Osprey sited was one of the fledglings. Today same story. Fledgling seems healthy but lonely. Sitting in perch tree near nest.
This nest has progressed very well this year just as it did last year. The adults are very attentive and the chicks are growing at a rapid rate.
All is well here.
Male arrived first again this year and started repairing nest. The Female arrived about a week later and was first observed together on the nest March 15th. Today they were both sitting on the rim of the nest and later both flew off together to their favorite fishing hole. This was at 10:10 am today. Clear sky and temp. at 58 degrees.
August 29th was the last time I saw an Osprey at this nesr and it was the male adult and one of the fledglings. I ASSUME THEY HAVE GONE SOUTH?
Will continue to watch the nest to see who is going to be the last one to leave and head South.I have noticed the past 4 to 5 days that the Female adult has been gorging herself, eating fish everytime I've seen her. The Male adult is hanging near the nest and not out hunting like he has been for the couple months.
The last fledgling left the nest today. They are all still back and forth, in and out of the nest. Looks like the first one out is a very good fisherman. I have seen him with a fish each time in a tree next to the nest. The Female adult did bring a fish to the nest this afternoon and shared it with one of the fledglings. This is a good story with a happy ending. Look back a my notes on May 4th and we thought we had lost all of them due to cold tempts and a fisherman that tied his boat within 10 feet of the nest for an hour and a half??? As they say "all's well that ends well"
First fledgling flew today! The Mama Osprey tried to coax the others to fly over to the wharf with a big fish. The first fledgling was watching from atop a nearby tree. The other two are wingercising and getting ready to go soon, probably by the end of the week.
10:30 this morning, clear and 89 degrees. I have attached a couple new pictures today showing Mama and chicks eating breakfast and discussing the fledging thing. They are due to fly any day now.
Checked on nest yesterday to find the young ones testing their wings out. Each on got on the rim of the nest and began their wing exercise thing. The Male soon returned to the nest with a fish and it was lunch time.They should be fledging soon, maybe next week.
Hot today, bout 93 degrees around 3pm. Chicks are growing fast. The Male is keeping up with lots of fish. Everything looks fine here.
Hot and sunny today. All is well.
Finally got a look at the Bobbleheads, all three (3) them. I will post pictures of them next. It was sunny and warm today, bout 89 degrees when I arrived. Found the Female on the nest preening and shading the chicks.Couldn't see them at first. The nest is so deep. Soon the Male arrived with lunch and all three chicks went into action. The whole family is pictured on the nest. The Female feed them while the Male sat on the rim looking out for trouble.All is well at nest # 3721.
Today temp.81 degrees. Lots of activity at the nest today. First noticed Female sitting and vocalizing a lot. Soon the Male flew by nest with a large fish and landed in nearby tree, cut fish in half and delivered it to the nest. The female took it and left the nest to a nearby tree. NOW THIS IS WEIRD. The male and the female both flew over the nest a couple times with the fish half clutched in their feet but never landed. They did this one at a time. Finally the Male landed and began eating the fish but I didn't see him feeding a chick?? When he left the Female did the same thing. Then she flew away and soon came back with the fish half and began feeding a chick. The bowl of the nest is so deep I couldn't tell if there is more than one? After feeding for a while she settled in the nest and remained there sitting still. All is GOOD.
Arrived at 11:45am, temp.70 degrees. The Female was squawking loudly continuously for about 20 minutes.Finally the Male showed up and she quieted down. She stood up and they both perched on the nest rim and apparently chatted back and forth. About 10 minuted later the Male took off and the Female rearranged or fluffed up some off the marsh grass and twigs in the nest and sat there for another 30 minutes or so till the male returned. This time she left and flew over to their perch tree nearby. All was quiet when I left at about 1pm.
arrived approx.5:30pm, temp at 51degrees. noticed a boat tied to the wharf next to the piling cluster that holds the nest. T Female was circling back and forth. After aprox. 20 min. the boat left. A couple of guys were fishing from the bank and I asked them how long they thought the boat had been tied to the wharf. They said anywhere from 45 mins. to an hour. Don't know if being off the nest that long with temps @ 50degrees would do damage or not. As soon as the boat left the Female was on the nest. She didn't appear to turn the eggs, just sat on them. Soon the Male appeared and after about an hour the Female left and the Male sat.
Arrived aprox. 4:30PM. All was slow on the riverfront today. The Female was sitting on nest all the time I was there (2hours). Male flew around occasionally but never landed on the nest.No boats,no disturbance, all is well with nest #3721 today.
posting pics in order???????????? Whatever.
Picture #7 as posted on 04/16/2013 was deleted by mistake. It shows Female turning egg(s) I will re-post it as #11.
CORRECTION** Pics # 7-10.
Arrived at nest site at approx. 4PM. I observed nest for about two (2) hours today. The Female sat on nest almost all the time. Had a man come by on a stand-up board, paddling, that upset the Female. She made a lot of noise and flew off and circled the guy until he was well past the nest. She went back to the nest and the Male flew in and immediately mating began. (pics # 8-11) OF NOTICE, it seems when there has been a disruption by intruders, mating always occurs soon afterwards?? Don't know if that is a characteristic of Osprey or not?? But I have observed it when their space was intruded by Hawks,Vultures,Balded Eagle. The same thing happened each time.
The last picture posted (#7) shows her turning the egg (s) ??? Picture #6 was taken today also showing the Female setting on nest.
Female has returned and we have a pair of Osprey, mating and preparing the nest. She was back on Saturday, 4/13/13. Don't know why she was gone so long They were together in nest and on resting/mating tree from March 14th thru April 7th and haven't seen her till last Saturday?? Anyway she is setting on nest non-stop and appears to be turning egg (s) ever so often. So I have to believe she has started the incubation cycle. Male is back and forth flying around and setting in nearby tree.
Just back from watching the nest and wanted to report a FIRST for me!!!!!! I saw the Male Osprey chase off a Bald Eagle that flew nearby in a very high circling pattern.The Eagle was a mature and after several attempts of the Osprey to chase it away, they locked talons and began to fall, circling around and around. This happened for several seconds and at about 80 to 100 feet above the water they released and the Eagle flew away. The Male Osprey returned to the nest with his mouth wide open, panting. I have seen mature and immature Eagle do this before but never an Osprey and Eagle. Still haven't seen the female in two (2) days? Male still rearranging sticks in the nest.
Today observed Male adding sticks and rearranging them in the nest. Next he flew over to a sandy bank of the river, waded out to about 6 to 8 inches of water and began bathing. He dunked himself at least 15 to 18 times and then took off, shaking the water off like a dog does. No sight of the Female today.
Took pictures and will add if they turned out.
Been watching this nest for past thee (3) weeks to see when they would arrive.Today,(3/14/13)
I observed the pair checking the nest out and gathering marsh grass to line it.