When I went to check on Romeo and Juliet, he came flying overhead to warn me. I have to part the dune grass/swamp grass to see and the red-winged blackbirds sound the alarm! They both perched on the posts of the nest. I couldn't tell if anyone hatched. I would think that Juliet would have been serving as an umbrella for chicks if there were any because it was really a hot day.
I haven't seen any chicks for these two yet. Juliet sits on the nest, or jumps to a post to perch. Romeo stays on his favorite perch, flies overhead, or is out fishing.
I haven't seen any evidence of egg hatching but I did witness this incredible event. I guess Juliet flew too close to this red-winged blackbird's nest and he dive-bombed her like a kamikaze pilot. His nest is right where I have access to take photos - I'm surprised I haven't gotten a peck or two on the head but summer is yet to get here...
I returned from Florida a week ago and visited nests today. Juliet sits on the nest while Romeo is perched on a beam of the nest. It seems that they have eggs.
Today Juliet arrived! I was so surprised bc I had been waiting for her just like Romeo. She was constantly building up the nest and it seemed like she was
scolding Romeo bc he kept sitting on the perch.
Today was extremely hot and steamy. I observed one sitting on a perch on the nest. I really think this nest failed because of the unusually rainy and windy spring, particularly the month of May.
The 2 were on the perches of the nest; as I approached closer, they both flew off. I'm thinking that something definitely happened to the eggs but perhaps they will try again.
I visited at sunset yesterday and one was on a perch while the other was arriving onto a perch. Curiously this morning, I couldn't see if anyone was sitting on the nest, and there were 2 flying overhead. I don't know what this behavior means as I had thought last week there were definitely newly hatched chicks.
I was puzzled today because both were off the nest when I arrived at the site. One was on the perch pole, and the other flew in. Then both flew o to the nest, chirped, and one stayed and the other flew off. I stayed for a bit but it was getting late. As I pedaled home, o e flew overhead with a big fish.
Romeo on perch, then flew to Juliet on the nest. Can only see Juliet's head.
Few minutes later, Juliet jumped up and perched on one of the poles of the nest! so both are perched, looking down into the nest, and fussing. Then Juliet jumped down to the edge of the nest, fussing. I strongly think chicks have hatched.
I think it was Juliet on the perch eating a huge fish; Romeo sat quietly and still on the nest. I say it was Juliet because it looked much larger than Romeo and markings looked different to me. Weather was partly sunny and cool.
Romeo and Juliet doing their thing, Romeo grooming himself on his perch while Juliet sat on the nest. Decent day weather wise but more rain is predicted for tomorrow. I wonder if ospreys tire of rain as much as people.
Yesterday Romeo surveying the homestead and Juliet keeping watch too. Weather was partly sunny with wind picking up in the afternoon. Romeo chased a couple of great egrets that flew too closely to the nest.
Even though it rained during the night today turned out to be a lovely day. April was very rainy so I am hoping for the nice weather to continue. The ospreys need a break from the extreme winds and rain as well as we do.
Visited later afternoon; cloudy, chilly. Romeo sat on his perch , preening himself while Juliet sat on the nest. The pair remained like that for the hour or so that I was there.
I began watching this nest in mid-March 2020, and saw the male for the first time this year on March 27. The female arrived the following week, and the last time they were together not in the nest was April 13. It was on April 16 that the female was flat on the nest. I visit a few times a day ; this particular nest is very near my home.
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Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2020
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Nesting Diaries