Tag: #Birds

Eagle Nest 4/15

After I started watching this nest today, a storm with high winds came in. Before it got bad I saw what I believe is the mother in the nest. I also say one eaglet head pop up at a time. It is said this nest has three.

Eagle Nest 4/15 – Probably the mother

When the winds started getting bad, I hung out in my car, but decided to wait it out. I’m glad I did. I do not think I have taken pictures of an eagle bringing in a fish in quite a while. Today I saw two brought in.

Eagle Nest 4/15 – Most likely the dad

This nest is on the Hudson River, but there are other bodies of water nearby. Each time the dad went out in the direction of the river, so I assume this is where he caught both fish, but he did not tell me.

Eagle Nest 4/15 – Dad ate most of this fish

The second fish he brought back was partial, just the tail region. I guess the dad was hungry. I did not stay around to see him bring in another, by this time I was hungry. What did I have for dinner? Salmon. Have a happy Wednesday!

Red-Breasted Merganser

It was dark and I was facing the sun’s direction when I took this, so not good lighting. It was also not close. Merlin gave me the Red-Breasted Merganser as a first choice. I think that is what it is, possibly an immature. It was skittish and stayed a distance out on the Hudson River, so I am not sure I will get another chance at getting another shot.

Red-Breasted Merganser

Have a happy Tuesday!

Osprey New Season

This pair was the first one I caught arriving back. They seem to be the most active pair. I am not sure if the nest survived from the winter and they just add to it, or if they had to start anew. I only just started exploring this area of the river.

Osprey New Season

The male is arriving back at the nest. This nest is far away, so these images are taken with a zoom lens and heavily cropped.

Osprey New Season

The above photo was yesterday. This is the first time I saw both hang out for a long time in the nest. Could there be eggs yet? It was a warmer spring day with little to no winds. Get out and enjoy the first signs of spring.

Nesting Eagle

Evidently there are two young eaglets in this nest this year. Last year they had one and it did not last too long after it hatched. Hopefully the two in this nest make it.

Nesting Eagle

I did not see the eaglets. It appeared as though this eagle was feeding them part of the time I was there. The head of the adult kept dipping down into the nest.

Nesting Eagle – Bringing in a stick

When the skies started getting darker with an approaching rain storm, the eagle flew out to bring in another stick. I guess home repairs never end. Have a happy Friday!

Osprey in Tree March 2025

Today I went down to see the osprey nest on the Hudson River. I was not expecting much as the sky was dark all day, it was foggy/hazy, and I did not see much in the later part of the week after work. It was actually a good day despite the conditions.

Osprey in Tree March 2025- flying towards tree

I was on a section of a walking trail along the river I had not been on yet and almost missed it. I was talking to a nice older couple, when I saw this Osprey fly into a tree close to the trail and on the river.

Osprey in Tree March 2025

After it landed its mate came flying up to the same tree about 10 minutes later. They stayed a few minutes more then flew off.

Osprey in Tree March 2025

The older couple followed me to a closer look out and got their own pictures as well.

Osprey in Tree March 2025

Most of my pictures were not tack sharp, but not the worst. There was a lot of action and it was great to see it. I was informed by the local fishermen that it may be tough to get a spot to view the nest as the seasons for one particular fish opens very soon. They expect the park to be flooded with fishermen. Have a great week!

Red-Tailed Hawk on the Hudson

I stopped on a dark day after work to see the osprey, but only saw this red-tailed hawk up close instead. I have been to this location several times, but it was the first time I saw a red-tailed hawk there.

Red-Tailed Hawk on the Hudson

This park borders a large piece of private property that includes a field and a lot of woods, so this hawk has a variety of spots to chose from. I am guessing it does not go to the shoreline as much.

It was scanning the shoreline of the Hudson River under the tree it was perched on and watching the kingfishers and other birds pass by.

Red-Tailed Hawk on the Hudson

After it fanned out it’s wing feathers it flew off right over my head. I did not take pictures of its flight as I was sure I did not have the shutter speed high enough. It appeared to possibly land and catch something in a grassy area behind me. It was not my anticipated subject, but good to see all the same. Have a great weekend!

Close Encounter With an Osprey

I need to stop in at this little park on the Hudson River as much as I can. Luckily it is not too far off the beaten path from my long commute home from work. Two out of three times I have been there I have had close fly-bys of an Osprey scanning the river and creek for fish. It is not far from a nest, but I am not sure this osprey is attached to that nest.

Close Encounter with an Osprey

Some day I hope to see and get shots of it going in the water and coming up with a fish. I have seen an osprey fly to the nest from this direction with a fish, so I am hoping everything aligns some day. Have a great week!

Killdeer on the Hudson

I have seen these birds at Assateague Island, Maryland at the state park . They were amongst the vegetation of the dunes. They pop out and seem to be hyper there. It is hard to get images of them. These are killdeer and I saw two on the shore of the Hudson River in New York. They were not so hyper and actually walked on the shore right in front of us.

Killdeer on the Hudson

They have a unique call. I just love their big eyes outlined in orange.  They eat earthworms, snails, crayfish, grasshoppers, beetles, among other things.  They are skilled at doing the broken-wing display, which is an attempt to lure predators away from their nest .

Killdeer on the Hudson

My area of New York is in their breeding range. South of us is their year round range. They obviously go elsewhere for winter. Welcome back! Have a great weekend!

Osprey Howdy!

This osprey flew right at me. It is the first osprey sighting of the new year for me and a good harbinger of spring.

I saw this on a park on the Hudson River in New York. It followed what looked like a creek upstream. We looked at the trees around the wetland and the creek like area, but could see no sign of it. It was not the best lighting being before sunset and mostly cloudy, but I will take it. Have a great Friday.

Short-Eared Owl With a Vole Feb. 2025

These are not the best images, but at least I got to see this. If I remember right I was standing in front of the viewing platform when this shorty caught a vole then was immediately chased by a harrier hawk. The short-eared owl flew circles around the platform with the vole then flew off as another harrier hawk joined the pursuit.

Short-Eared Owl With a Vole Feb. 2025

As the owl flew off it flew in circles higher and higher until you could not see it anymore. I think the harriers gave up, but I could be wrong.

Short-Eared Owl With Vole Feb. 2025

It all happened so fast it was hard to get focused pictures when you were trying to keep the owl in frame so close and work around the other people standing close to you in the area. As I said, I am just happy to have seen this. There have been no sightings in over a week. We are hoping they left early this year and it is not due to the avian flu. One young eagle south of here along the river recently had it. Have a great week!