Osprey No. 3
This morning before sunrise, I sighted my third Osprey in our area. I was hoping when I stepped out this morning before getting on the road to work, I’d at least ‘hear’ one. I found a pair of Osprey on Lippincott’s Channel Marker #3. And YES I heard them too! What a wonderful sound, I love it. I watched this pair for just a couple minutes before they both flew off to the left where I anticipated they went to one of the Osprey platforms erected at Osprey Point (I cannot see these platforms from my balcony, but I can when I drive by them). Sure enough, there the pair was, sitting on the platform seen closest to Rt 18 when I drove by. Their season is ready to begin! Here’s a couple shots of the pair on the channel marker.
Osprey Pair on Lippincott’s Channel Marker #3 3-15-13
Osprey pair reconnected
As soon as I passed their Rt 18 platform, I jumped on and headed east on Rt 50 towards our infamous Osprey nests over the highway; my first Osprey sighted was still on his/her nest sign, still waiting for his/her mate to return. That also gave me my confirmation I have indeed seen three arriving Ospreys. 🙂
While photographing the Osprey couple, I couldn’t help taking a photograph of the House Finch on my neighbor’s railing. He was also enjoying the sunrise.
Male House Finch singing at sunrise
My buddies, the House Finch. They do love sitting on the balcony railings….and leaving me little presents. 😉 Here’s three more photos of maybe him above or another visitor hanging with me at sunset one evening.
Male House Finch enjoying the last of the day’s rays
Male House Finch
Male House Finch
A surprise visitor at sunrise a week ago caught my eye running below me on the ground between me and the Osprey platform. He was fast! I took several photos and got lucky. I thought to myself, my goodness this dove or pigeon is fast. But the red eye, hmmmm…. Well, I soon found out when I pulled out my books that it wasn’t a dove or pigeon at all, I came up with identifying him as a Sharp-shinned Hawk (correct me if I’m wrong, as this would be a newbie to my bird list!). The Sharp-shinned Hawk is the smallest hawk in North America.
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
He was here and then up and gone as he flew off!
Well, this is a quick post, I had to shout out the third Osprey sighting for us locals who are eying the sky, markers, and platforms for another Osprey arriving.
Welcome back, Osprey! And to all of you, have a great weekend, thanks for keeping up with me!
