Tag: #Birds

The Chase 2

Around the time the eggs hatched, I started to see osprey from other nests come to this one and stir up trouble. If they fly too close, the male will chase after the intruder.

The Chase 2

The one osprey above seems to have feather issues. I have never seen them touch each other. Sometimes I wonder if this is just a game so the dads can fly away and hang out together. They also will chase another osprey if they have a fish. Eagles try to steal fish from osprey, and osprey, it appears will try to steal a fish from each other.

The Chase 2

The gave me plenty to view by flying close to where I was standing. I love it when they do that.

The Chase 2

One even flew very close to me during the pursuit and I got some nice close ups. I took some photos today and watched them for a few hours, but it was very cloudy and dark. It was still fun watching them. Have a great Monday!

Dad is Busy Fishing

As the babies grow bigger, the dad seems to get busier catching fish. In a 4 hour period I saw him bring in maybe 4 fish. As the babies get bigger ,I suppose he will get busier.

Dad is Busy Fishing- Going to a neighbouring perch

Sometimes dad brings the fish directly into the nest. At other times he brings it to a neighbouring perch and waits. When the female tells him they are ready he flies over to the nest with the new catch. To me it looks like he is riding a skateboard here and not carrying a fish.

Dad is Busy Fishing- Babies are in the middle of the nest

What do osprey eat? According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

The osprey’s diet is almost exclusively fish, a unique characteristic among raptors. They are opportunistic about the species of fish they catch, but they can only catch fish swimming within three feet (1 m) of the water’s surface. They rarely take fish over 16 inches (40 cm) long. 

Dad is Busy Fishing- I love it when he flies in facing the light

They on occasion will catch small birds, reptiles, and small mammals. Will they catch a fish a fisherman snagged? Watch the video taken by The Crossroads on the Schroon River in the Adirondacks of New York. Beware a curse word is used.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/697994289596277

I worry about them having trouble with a hook. On the Hudson River they seem to have no issue getting fish on their own. Maybe the ones on small rivers upstate will resort to stealing from a fisherman. Have a Happy Tuesday!

Osprey Family 6/8

It was a hazy day, but I figured I would try my luck with the osprey. We are supposed to have more rainy days this week. Despite the haze, I saw a lot.

Osprey Family 6/8 -You can see to babies by the parent on the right side of the photo.

The babies are starting to look more like Osprey. They are also peeking their heads above the nest more.

Osprey Family 6/8 -One being fed and the other looking in the same direction as the other parent.

These are all taken at a distance with a zoom lens and are cropped.

Osprey Family 6/8- One of the parents with both kids in the photo in the bottom of the photo. One head is just visible under the other baby.

Even hazy days can be good days! Have a great week!

Incoming!

Incoming! This appears to be the dad with a fish. The two babies are visible in the nest by the mom. One young osprey is looking away while the other youngster is looking towards the camera.

Incoming! The two babies are just visible by mom in the nest.

This was today. After work and an appointment I stopped by for a short time to view the nest. We had some sun today, but also clouds. In the later afternoon/ early evening facing towards this nest is almost facing the sun. It makes for bad light. Someday maybe I will get photos like this in the morning.

Incoming!

Stay safe! Have a happy Tuesday!

The Babies Are Visible!

The Babies Are Visible! Osprey Babies

The Osprey babies stuck their heads above the top of the nest several times today. I could not get them in sharp focus. This is with a zoom lens and heavily cropped. When they grow bigger I hope to get some better images. Most of the time I was looking at the nest I did not see them, and sometimes I saw one head. I have a few images where two heads were visible. They are very small. Have a great Monday!

Sizing Up Dinner

We continue to have a lot of rainy days. I did view the osprey in between storms. No baby osprey heads visible yet as of Friday night. This nest is deep.

Sizing Up Dinner

In the above picture it appears the female osprey is sizing up the fish the male is bringing in.

Sizing up dinner- Battle Scars?

The above piture appears to be the male. He has some white areas on his wing. I wonder if that is normal or batle scars from chasing off eagles and other osprey or them chasing him.

Sizing up dinner- This fish he appears to ate completely himself. I believe I was told this one is a herring.

The fishermen wanted to see what fish the osprey was bringing in, so I showed them the back of my camera. I think it was this image. They thought it was a herring based on what they saw in the back of my camera. The one fisherman said he was using herring as bait to catch stripper.

Here’s hoping we get some clear days. Here’s hoping we will get a clear night or two. They are saying here that Sunday night has a possibility to be a great night to see the Northern Lights, if it is not cloudy and everything pans out as they are thinking. Happy Sunday!

Sticks and Fish

I still have not seen a baby osprey’s head yet peeking over the nest. The male is bringing in more sticks and fish to the nest.

Sticks and Fish

According to All About Birds the incubation period for the eggs is between 36-42 days. We have experienced some very windy days, so more sticks may be for repairs due to weather.

Sticks and Fish

It is said the females are the ones who primarily incubate the eggs while the males bring in the fish for the female. They say the male will watch the nest when the female goes out to wash. I have see her do short circle flights where it appears she is stretching her wings. Hopefully soon we will see the young osprey. If you are in the US have a great Memorial Day weekend.

Intruder and Pursuit

I thought two adults were already in the nest I was watching today. People kept stopping to talk and ask questions, so maybe I missed the mate leaving. However, this adult coming to the nest was an intruder, probably from the other nest that was within sight.

Intruder and Pursuit – Intruder is approaching the nest

From the pictures you can see the one osprey in the nest looks quite perturbed. The other adult osprey was laying low in the nest. The intruder actually landed on the nest for a few seconds.

Intruder and Pursuit- Both do not look happy

Then one of the adults from the nest went in hot pursuit. Luckily for me some of the action was fairly close, and I was able to capture some shots.

Intruder and Pursuit

The adult from the nest chased him in circles in front of me. Meanwhile the mate in the nest was loudly protesting, or were they cheering their mate on?

Intruder and Pursuit

Although it appears they got fairly close at some points, it does not looks like from any of my images that any blood was shed. Not sure if they even actually touched each other.

Intruder and Pursuit

Eventually they flew farther away over land chasing each other in the direction of another body of water. I thought these two nests were getting along, but there was drama today. I hope your week is drama free.

Osprey Bridge Fly-By

I finally got to go down to view this nest in the morning. It was a sunny day with little clouds. Early morning in those conditions can make for some good light.

Osprey Bridge Fly-By

Did not see him catch a fish, but had some nice fly-by shots.

Osprey Bridge Fly-By

As the temperatures get warmer, get out and enjoy the weather before it gets too hot. Have a great Tuesday!