Osprey

We saw a ton of Osprey down in Florida.  Pretty much every time we looked up.

An Osprey Grows Up

I first starting watching this nest when the chick was 3 days old.  It wasn't much bigger than the eggs (siblings that never hatched) and it couldn't hold it's head up for more than a second.  Now it's growing into a big sturdy bird.  You can see by the eggs how much bigger he's gotten.

Work For It

More osprey photos from Saturday's boat ride.  Note that he drops about half his load on approach but his lady seems happy enough with the offering.

Osprey

We saw some amazing osprey on Saturday's trip to Cape May.  Check out the variety in the nests!!

Osprey Chick in Action

This nest appears to have only one chick. Sunday we visited and got to see a lot of bird activity. Here's mom and chick hanging out in the nest with dad on the post nearby.


Something alarmed the couple and dad took flight to deter whatever threat caught their attention.


Meanwhile, back at the nest, the chick laid low while mom stood protective detail. You can identify her as female by her "necklace" (brown spots on her white chest).


Danger apparently past, dad returns to his post and the chick gets up to take care of business. Wrong way chick-o.


Much better, keeping the nest clean!


Couldn't resist the "ribbon" shot.


And a chick stretches his wings.

Osprey Chicks!

We finally got back to Forsythe NWR and at last there were osprey chicks!! Looks like they are about ready to fledge.

A family with two chicks.


Feeding time.


Three chicks in this nest!


And an only child. More about this guy tomorrow.

Lunch

I got home from work this morning just in time to see a baltimore oriole attacking a crow, multiple times. I wonder if there's an oriole nest nearby. This image is from yesterday's trip to Forsythe NWR. I was, once again, hoping to see baby osprey but they don't seem to be hatched yet. Or if they are I couldn't see them. It was over 100 degrees yesterday so the birds were just taking it easy. There was very little going on overall but I got to this spot just in time for lunch.

Osprey at Edwin B. Forsythe NWR

Delaware Seashore State Park