Since my last post, Sunday and Monday were very windy keeping the birds to the trees and grounds, followed by a super calm Tuesday. When it is this flat & quiet, it’s like a painted picture; there’s usually at least a breeze and/or a rolling tide and/or boats rippling the water. Here’s two photos from that day about an hour before sunset to share, and to also give you a sense of my ‘backyard’ from my balcony where those birds I photograph pass through or stop by to visit. The first photo is my view to the left of our osprey nest (Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center in background), and the second of my view to the right of our nest (Kent Island in background with Kent Narrows south approach entry channel markers 3 & 4). Just a big, beautiful playground for all those birds share!
Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center (CBEC)
Right is Kent Island and Kent Narrows South Approach Entry Channel Markers 3 & 4
Tuesday seemed to be my lucky day this week on birds. That Tuesday morning, we had an osprey visit our nest platform briefly. I watched & photographed from inside my glass slider to stay out of sight, he landed & immediately made threatening calls out to another osprey flying high overhead. I don’t think they were buddies! LOL Once the other osprey flew off, he settled down and began to pick at the nest a little, and then was off and gone. Here’s two shots at sunrise. It was nice to see an osprey on our nest platform!
Osprey
Osprey
That’s the only osprey I’ve seen land on the nest since my last post. But they are definitely in the area, those that I’ve posted on around us are continuing to secure where they’ve decided to begin nesting. I’ve also seen five at one time, so more are arriving or passing through. Hey, our nest just might be the Oyster Cove Nest Depot this season! We might have some interesting visitors and of course fly-bys, so it’ll be fun to see what happens.
After that osprey’s departure, I did step outside with my camera and immediately saw two immature eagles playing over at CBEC. It’s at a distance for cropping even for my telephoto lens but you can still see their fun!
Immature American Bald Eagles "Playing"
Immature American Bald Eagles "Playing"
Immature American Bald Eagles "Playing"
Immature American Bald Eagles "Playing"
They continued to frolic in the skies, chasing and entwining. It was pretty cool to see wildlife having some fun!
The next shots are a first for me of a Pied-billed Grebe, a plump pigeon-sized bird. He was alone, diving and feeding, and then gone. Just a quick visitor!
Pied-billed Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
Smilin' for the camera!
I did capture a small flock of cormorants flying by Monday at sunrise.
Double-crested Cormorants
Finally, a shot that I missed posting last time from my boat trip of someone’s waterside retreat, I just love how inviting it is….can’t you imagine being in it on a nice summer’s day?!! 
As always, thanks for stopping by!
Very nice work Donna!
By: avian101 on 03/29/2012
at 9:06 PM
Donna, it is mind boggling to me how much time you have invested in these osprey. You could write a book or submit your research. Between that and all your photos….wowzers. Beautiful reporting.Margie
By: latebloomerbuds on 03/29/2012
at 9:45 PM
Many thanks Margie, but it really is easy to compile with it all so close; and when the weather is nice, my binoculars and camera are both set up on a tripod on the balcony. I do share some specific photos or info with Friends of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Cambridge, MD and that’s always exciting!
By: bayphotosbydonna on 03/30/2012
at 7:44 PM
I love those eagle shots, and the Pied-billed Grebe is a real cutie. We have a lot of them here and I enjoy photographing them, too.
By: Bob Zeller on 03/29/2012
at 9:57 PM
Thank you Bob!
By: bayphotosbydonna on 03/30/2012
at 7:49 PM
More amazing shots! I especially like the eagles “playing”
By: quietsolopursuits on 03/30/2012
at 12:57 AM
Thanks QSP for your comments!
By: bayphotosbydonna on 03/30/2012
at 7:51 PM
I loved the eagle shots; I’ve never seen anything like that. good for you on your grebe visitor.
Yes, I’d love a little relaxing spot like that hammock!
By: Neita on 03/30/2012
at 3:10 AM
Thanks Neita! Bet a hammock would be nice in your backyard when your transformation is complete!
By: bayphotosbydonna on 03/30/2012
at 7:54 PM
Very nice Donna. I love the wonderful waterfowl photos and the serenity feel I get from your shoreline shots.
By: jkgphotos on 03/30/2012
at 7:15 AM
Appreciate your comments Joleen, I aim to please!
By: bayphotosbydonna on 03/30/2012
at 7:58 PM
Hope you get a picture sometime this summer of someone napping in the hammock. Would be perfect.
paul
By: Paul Schmitt on 03/30/2012
at 7:37 AM
I’ll have to keep my eye on that hammock this summer when we’re along the Wye River and see if it happens, Paul. Cool idea!
By: bayphotosbydonna on 03/30/2012
at 8:08 PM
An enjoyable look at remarkable birds through your watchful eye! Thanks for sharing, Donna; hope you have as good of a time this weekend as those young eagles!
By: Beth on 03/30/2012
at 7:42 AM
Thanks Beth, and have a great weekend too!
By: bayphotosbydonna on 03/30/2012
at 8:09 PM
Oh my goodness! You’ve captued photos of eagles, “cartwheeling”. Here’s more information about this behavior:
By: Deb Platt on 03/30/2012
at 10:30 AM
Thanks Deb! This pair was young and I noticed they didn’t do it very long or very high. (guess that is kind of dangerous!) But I have seen them over the Wye River cartwheeling from very high in the sky as said, and fall while locked together, it’s both scary and breath-taking! Thanks for the link and info.
By: bayphotosbydonna on 03/30/2012
at 8:28 PM
Eagle shots rule!!!!
By: Ed on 03/30/2012
at 11:36 AM
They are breath-taking, and I can’t help but get a patriotic feeling!
By: bayphotosbydonna on 03/30/2012
at 8:37 PM
So exiciting for the Osprey to be there! And those eagles, how magnificent! I envy your “backyard”. So lucky! Love the Pied-Billed Grebe too, they are so darn cute! Thanks for sharing!
By: From Moments to Memories on 03/30/2012
at 10:53 PM
Thanks Sheila, I do feel lucky, and love that I can share with you and others! If I didn’t share, I’d bust at the seams…. LOL
Seriously though, I am very grateful for our place, the serenity and wildlife does give me an inner peace.
By: bayphotosbydonna on 03/31/2012
at 5:56 AM
Wonderful photographs… Should be so exciting to watch them with camera. Thank you and also Thank you for visitin my blog. I am glad to meet you and your blog. With my love, nia
By: niasunset on 04/01/2012
at 2:29 AM
Thanks so much Nia!
By: bayphotosbydonna on 04/07/2012
at 9:38 PM
It’s very cool that you are following the lives of these magnificent birds. Thanks for sharing!!!
By: dhphotosite on 04/01/2012
at 9:12 AM
Thanks for commenting and for stopping by!
By: bayphotosbydonna on 04/07/2012
at 9:39 PM
That’s quite the backyard, Donna, and a wonderful stage for your photography! Enjoyed the post and look forward to the continuing saga of Oyster Cove.
By: BigSkyKen on 04/02/2012
at 12:44 AM
Thanks Ken, it is a wonderful stage! Nice way to think of it, thanks for comments!
By: bayphotosbydonna on 04/07/2012
at 9:40 PM
Great stuff….LOVE the eagles “playing”. Thanks for sharing.
By: corinthcorners on 04/07/2012
at 8:01 PM
Thanks CC! It is really cool watching them in the morning, I just wish they’d come a little closer to me when they’re doing it! LOL Thanks for stopping by!
By: bayphotosbydonna on 04/07/2012
at 9:42 PM