Osprey Osprey Everywhere – Part 1
For the last eight weeks, the surrounding Chesapeake Bay have welcomed back and been entertained by the Osprey. They are easily sighted if you are in our area around the Kent Narrows waterways in the sky or perched on signs, buoys, channel markers, trees, and man-made nest platforms. We’ve not had a pair of Osprey take residence and build a nest on our nest platform this season, but I witnessed a few attempts. The first on was on April 7th, I shot them through a double-pane window so not to spook or disturb him which caused a focus problem, but it’s proof we’ve enticed interest!
A male Osprey bringing & laying a stick on the platform on April 7th.
Moving the stick around to the ‘perfect spot’.
Oh no! The male Osprey looking over side at the stick that fell off & into the water.
The male Osprey perched for a while after losing his stick. Enough work for that day!
Another day…..
Male Osprey with nesting material on platform on May 3rd. Another Osprey harrassed him & he finally departed with the material.
A third time…..
Osprey arriving with sticks on the platform on May 8th. Another Osprey in the air was harrassing.
The Osprey departed and left the sticks.
A female Osprey returned shortly thereafter, and perched for a few minutes before departing without them. Later that evening, I check the platform and the sticks were gone. 😦
I imagine young Osprey that returned this season are trying to figure out what they are supposed to be doing, maybe trying to entice or impress a mate with their building skills. 🙂
In the meantime, our Oyster Cove platform is a regular perch for the area’s Osprey just as it was last season. And again, the different pairs all think they ‘own’ our platform and at times will fight over who gets to perch on it.
Osprey fighting over platform
When they aren’t chasing each other off, the Osprey perch temporarily to rest, territory watch, sleep, eat, and even mate.
Male Osprey
Male Osprey
Even mated Osprey meet up at the platform for a ‘home away from home’ perch.
Osprey Mates
Osprey Mates (male on left, female on right)
Male Osprey enjoying a meal
Osprey Mates
Osprey Mates
Osprey Mating
Lippincott’s Channel Marker 3 is another perch enjoyed and fought over.
Osprey partners
Osprey mating
The Osprey dines almost exclusively on live fish, often catching its meals by hovering over the water at an altitude of 50 to 200 feet, then diving feetfirst into the water to catch its prey. It is very entertaining to watch them in action. AND very challenging to photograph! Here are a few of my attempts at trying, to show their form and technique.
Osprey in dive-mode
Osprey in dive-mode
Feet-first for the attack
SPLASH!
The Osprey lifts himself back out of the water.
Up, up, up! Was he successful?
Yes!
And he’s off to enjoy his meal!
Another Osprey, another dive…..
Well into his dive, ready to strike.
SPLASH!
Lifting up and out
Another Osprey succeeds!
And he’s off to enjoy his meal as well.
One more time…
Osprey in dive-mode
Lining up for the strike
SPLASH!
It’s amazing to watch them lift out of the water into flight after total submersion!
Wings of strength!
This Osprey came up empty-talon but was successful when he quickly tried again!
Each osprey foot has a reversible front toe, as well as barbs (called spicules), which help it hold onto a slippery fish in flight. And that’s why I’ve never seen an Osprey drop a fish!
I watched two Osprey fishing at the same time and they both snagged a fish quickly. They then flew to each other and swirled around and off together, as if they were celebrating. A mated pair fishing together was a first for me! 🙂
Osprey pair that fished, celebrated, & flew off together. So cool!
It is here I’ll make a stop and finish a Part 2 with lots of Osprey flight photos.
Thank you for your visit, I hope you enjoyed these behavior shots as much as I enjoyed taking and witnessing them. I do love my Osprey!
Terrific outstretched talons fishing action shots Donna!
Thanks Steve, definitely a challenging photo to take and get into focus for sure!
Wonderful recordings of the birds’ behaviours, I enjoy learning about them this way.
Thank you so much Jane!
It’s a shame that your osprey never returned to the platform near you, maybe one of these years another pair will make it their home. It looks like there’s still enough action to entertain and enlighten us through your wonderful photos and stories!
Since we’ve got more activity this year with actual stick-laying, I’m feeling good about next year. I’m certainly enjoying the action the platform still draws from the visitors, keeps me active on challenging shots. Thanks Jerry!
Congratulations on an amazing series of photos. Well done…
Thanks so much Charlie!
I do enjoy “sharing” your osprey! It would be so nice to have the platform covered in sticks and treasures but since it is not, the next best thing is to have one of the most popular spots in the neighborhood to hang out, eat and rest. The mated pair fishing together is amazing. Thanks for sharing your photos and your knowledge. Can’t wait for part 2! hugs
Thank you Beth, you know I love my Osprey! Hoping next year the platform does entice a pair and we have little ones to watch grow. In the meantime, our area’s Osprey are doing a wonderful job entertaining us and each other. This morning one was on the nest eating a fish when I left…..funny how a bird can make me late for work, lol. Hugs!
What a wonderful set of pictures Donna! Lucky you to have these lovely birds close to your home. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Thanks HJ, I am a lucky gal AND thankful for their presence, I enjoy them so much!
Those are stunning action shots, Donna. I know from experience how difficult it can be to get them. You should be very proud. 🙂
Thanks Bob, I do want to get better at being more in focus at hand-held as I can spin & move quicker than my tripod’s wimberley head. Boy, birds can really move fast! I love their challenge and the beauty I’m able to capture when I can! 🙂
I, too have a Wimberley head, but it just doesn’t work well when trying to catch birds in flight. I hand-hold my camera with a 100-400mm zoom for that most of the time. Ocassionally, I get lucky with the 500mm and the Wimberley, but I certainly don’t depend on it.
I echo the praise of other commentators. Wonderful pictures.
Thank you very much Tom!
Amazing shots Donna! I love how you’ve captured the wing span in every image, it looks different every time. Stunning 🙂 x
Thank you Becky! Their wings span 4 1/2 to 6 feet wide; when they fly up close to me, I can hear their flapping strength, pretty cool!
Wow that is so cool, I never knew their wings were that big! 🙂 x
Wow this is a terrific series of photos Donna. I really enjoy your narrative and the photos to go along with it. I feel as though I am there watching all this take place. Well done and your passion for these majestic birds shows.
Thank you David so much, I’ve learned so much about them and enjoy sharing their behavior and beauty that I get to see daily!
These are great, thanks!
Thanks so much, Tom, I enjoy (probably too much LOL) photographing Osprey! 🙂
Wow. the “Osprey fighting over platform” picture is amazing! Awesome work 🙂
The noise is just as amazing as they scream to scare each other. Gives me heads up a ruckus is at the platform, run with the camera! LOL Thanks for your comments! 🙂
Oh! Thats nice 🙂