When I arrived at 1:30 pm, only female standing on nest. After 5 minutes, male joined her. He stood next to her with wings slightly akimbo. Then they both just stood quietly side by side. 62 degrees, mostly cloudy, slight breeze. Nest was improved.
hot humid sunny evening, 82 degrees, SE wind at 9 mph, 4 osprey kettling over the nest, 3 had fish, I checked back after visiting nest at Virginia Ave and no osprey on nest with one on snag along RT 1.
both at nest at 3pm, male ont perch female looking down into nest, then she settled down into nest with the a very gentle rocking motion, i assume she is still incubating at least one egg but she could also have a hatchling at this date
Female was on nest but flew off to favorite tree near Rt. 1. After a couple of minutes, she gathered what looked like nesting material. 4:00 p.m. Sunny and warm.
2:10 pm, 61 degrees, overcast, some wind. Did not see any evidence of activity at nest. The pair was sitting in a dead tree at the Rt. 1 end of the canal; quite a distance from nest.
no osprey seen on or near the nest today. i think the eggs were either not viable or if there were any hatchlings they probably perished with such heavy recent constant rains. this is likely a new younger pair
6:45 pm, nest was empty, both adults over at Rt. 1 snag, perched, with their backs to the nesting platform. I thought it must be a failed nesting. I returned at 7:50 and the male was still on the snag, as if he had never moved, the female was hunched in the nest, then she flew off over the marsh toward the male, I lost sight of her for a few minutes, then she flew back in my sight line and twice dive bombed a great blue heron, then went to the nest and appeared to rock down deep in the nest as if on eggs. I will just have to wait to see how this plays out. The more I watch ospreys nesting the less I know about ospreys nesting!!!
12:00 noon,65, SSE 7 mph, med vis, some drizzle. the female was in the nest and the male was picking at nest material on the nest rim. The past week of rain is concerning with more rain to come. Hope this pair can keep the eggs dry. I believe they are a new pair to this nest platform.
11:15am, overcast, 65 degrees. Both birds perched on platform with female dropping head in nest. After 5 minutes she settled back into nest. Male did not move.
2:00, 68 degrees, slight wind, sunny. Female seems to be more relaxed and deeper in nest, though it does appear to be a shallow one. She still does swivel her head around constantly. As this next is on a canal with houses on both sides, there is a fair amount of human noise, esp. construction at this time of year. Some gulls and red-winged blackbirds flying about. Did not see mate, though female did call a few times.
4 pm today with SW winds 8 mph ad up, sun and good vis,one in nest incubating and one on the far snag line at Rt. 1 eating a fish. This osprey appears higher in the nest and it may simply be the nest bowl is not deep. During prior seasons the birds in this nest would be much more settled, calmer, deeper in the nest and start earlier incubation so I do believe we have a new pair this season. Can not know for sure, just a hunch.
1:07-120 pm, partly cloudy, fairly windy. Female does still seem to be more nervous and more exposed above nest line than other nests observed. She is constantly swiveling around to check things out, this nest is closer to residences than other nests I have observed. Did not see mate.
3 pm today, WNW 18 mph wind with gusts, 50% clouds and good vis. The female is deep in the nest though she seems to be higher than some osprey will get so perhaps she is beginning egg laying. She seems stressed, not comfortable and I do believe this is a new pair this year from their behavior- not settled. the male flew in from the snag near Rt. 1 and stood beside her, bracing into the wind, eyes closed. She softly chirped at him but her head was swiveling and she was very wary of all the other bird species in the marsh and in the air. I do think she is incubating now.
11:10-11:20 am, 60 degrees, overcast with fog rolling in. Bird on nest did not seem to be incubating because top half of bird was visible. She seemed anxious, head swiveling constantly. No sign of mate.
4-24-18 around 5:00 pm female was low in the nest but not incubating. she was placing some nest material and her mate was on the favored pole in the west marsh, eating a large fish. today at the same time of day both osprey were quietly standing on the nest together. SW 8mph winds, 100% clouds with some fog, 63. I hope they begin incubating soon.
Sunny day with a few clouds, 62 degrees, light wind. 12:55--1:20 pm. Female was on nest, but not completely relaxed; tail and part of wings were swept up. But she did not move. Heard her call, but did not see mate.
Nobody home at 10:15 am today and none in the dining area either but after I checked Victoria Drive nest upon my return both arrived to the nest and the male handed off a headless fish, then he proceeded to clean his bill on the nest and she flew over to the dining tree.Years past the osprey at this nest were earlier nesters. I hope this pair gets down to business soon.
Around 5 pm today both osprey were on their favorite dining snag by Rt. 1, then the female flew to the nest and was urgently calling for a fish. Her mate came immediately and gave her a headless fish. She flew back to the snag to dine and he sat on the corner board of the nest and raked his bill clean. 48, some clouds, hi vis, SE 8 mph.
Female on the nest today. She was very quiet. I have not seen the male in a few days. I noticed the previously unused platform ( at least for 2017) on a tiny island across from the cul de sac at Victoria Ave.has had a male visitor off and on and today it had the male and new nest material. I am wondering what is going on and hoping my pair was truly a pair and not just checking each other out last week!
2;00 today both osprey at nest area with female on the nest calling softly to her mate who was eating a fish on his favorite dining pvc pipe in the marsh NW of the platform. temp 43, winds NE 23 mph, chilly day with sun and clouds.
Today I checked the nest again and at 3:00 pm an osprey was perched on a pvc pipe along water line about 300 ft SE from the nesting platform. I could not tell if it was female or male as it did appear to have a light necklace. Another osprey flew over head and called softly to the osprey on the pipe then it continued over to the canal treeline near the empty platform across from Victoria Ave. That bird appeared to be female but again can not be 100% sure until I can confirm with behaviors. Temp 42, winds NW 14 mph, 50% mix of sun and clouds. I will not start my activity report until I see a pair on the nest. Hoping the end of this nesting season someone can place a nice T perch on the corner of this nesting platform so the male and fledglings have a place to perch.
end of season: this is a tough group to track and I lost sight of the adults even before all 3 chicks were flying but I did see 2 juveniles enjoying some fishing together close to the nest on 7-19-17. my last sighting of the adult female was on 7-3-17. this group has the ocean and expansive bays so close that its not surprising they are rarely at the nest after fledge time. they always seem to do very well here.
2 fledged young flying near the nest, diving for fish with one catching a fish and both returning to nest. this is what makes monitoring osprey so exciting. seeing these young birds fearlessly submerging into the water and coming up with a prize. they have fulfilled their purpose..flight
3 big chicks on the nest yesterday when I arrived and one had its own fish, so fledging cant be too long now. the female flew onto the nest and promptly took the fish so maybe the male had brought it in her absence and she decided her chick should share it.
both on the nest today and one feeding as other fixed nest material, still haven't seen a little head pop up and these babes should be getting some weight and strength on them
If there are no hatchlings today there will be soon. I watched both osprey in the nest for at least 30 minutes today. the female was low in the nest but very fussy and the male stayed with her the entire time I watched.
continuing to incubate with little disturbance. the male sits at the nest as he doesn't have a nest perch. other times he eats fish on the snags near rt. one.
Have not seen the male at the nest past few days. I do not see it anywhere nearby but the female is calm and not calling for fish. last season I also rarely saw the male or fledglings. Not certain where the family goes when not at the nest.
12:40, temp 41, NNE 9mph,sunshine, beautiful day and both osprey have arrived! Male perched on pvc pipe guard perch near the road and female flew in with large branch and began arranging the nest. This is why I monitor osprey..my heart is happy to see the pair!
I never saw any osprey on the nest after finding the nest empty on 7-17-16. There were osprey flying around the area and I did see one or 2 in the trees along the main road but since this platform has no vegetation near it except for marsh grass its not surprising that the birds didn't spend a lot of time on the nest by this date.
I can guarantee these 2 chicks fledged awhile ago but I could not confirm it as each visit they were just hanging out in the nest with the adult female. But finally today I find an empty nest with a number of osprey kettling above the nest. Always exciting to see an empty nest with the group flying overhead because they now have some independence from human disturbance. Of course there is a lot of learning ahead but so cool to know they are on their way.
I generally check this nest site once a week, Wednesdays. The pair is still incubating. I rarely see the second bird but I am not spending much time monitoring, just a few minutes. I do intend to check more often now since I do not know the exact date of incubating and there may be chicks any day! I hope before Memorial Day. That is a tough weekend for new osprey parents and this platform is on a narrow waterway accessed by a busy S. Bethany neighborhood.
I first observed this nest site on 4-14-16 and the birds were already nesting. Perhaps someone else can fill in the blanks. I will monitor their progress through the season. The male uses the marsh signs west of the structure for guarding.
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