Bay Photos by Donna

I’m in the Maryland Chesapeake Bay region, and today we were expected to be in the path of yesterday’s Midwest’s “2013 Derecho”.  Two storm events did occur today for us, first a strong line of storms came through the area around 8:30 a.m.  I made it to work in Delaware (an hour east of home) well ahead of this line of storms, thank goodness.  Here’s a couple shots that I took at work in Delaware.  After these swirling, ominous clouds rolled through, we had a huge wind-driven downpour.  I worried what it had been like at home.

Storm crossing over our building.

Here’s what had already rolled over us as it continued east. You can see the beginning line of the storm in the distance.

After it came and went, we actually had partly cloudy blue skies.  But we were warned that the heat of the day would start up another, more severe storm line.  Tornadoes were possible.

As forecasted, another storm-line headed into Maryland.  Several tornadoes were reported.  Keeping an eye to the weather channel’s radar since I had to drive towards the storm to get home, I felt I was on the road in plenty of time.  As I drove, I watched the dark horizon got closer and bigger.  My husband called and said BWI Airport was evacuated to all lower levels of the terminals due to a tornado heading towards it.  I called my son who lives within 15 minutes of the airport, he was already tracking it.  It passed by 10 miles south of him.  And missed the airport.

I raced home a little faster.  The derecho was upon me as I pulled in.  I took these next photos from my balcony as soon as I arrived home.  The storm cell was mesmerizing…..

This dangerous cell crossed at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge from Annapolis, temporarily shutting the bridge down to traffic.  Winds were recorded at 68 mph.  (That is an osprey flying in the sky.)

Osprey flying into the winds of this cell.  Crazy bird!

The edge of the cell now to my left, crossing the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center.

And then the downpour came along with lightning and 60+ mph winds!

I, of course, had big worries for all of nature’s creatures, including our new Osprey pair and their nest on our platform.  This struggling Osprey pair have been trying to find a specific place to call home after being driven away from their first chosen spot on a boat.  Their nest looked like this before the storm.

One of our new Osprey residents and Nest as of June 11th

After the storm, I checked the platform and found the 60 mph+ winds had taken away our Osprey’s hard work to date.  🙁

After the 60+ mph winds, the nest is gone.  (Sorry for poor quality!)

I was truly dismayed.  Now what will the Osprey pair do?  This pair just cannot get a break.  I looked and didn’t see them on Lippincott’s channel marker.  I hoped they made it through the storm…..

A half hour later, look who was on the platform!

Our male Osprey returned.  I watched him look around & around at the platform, seeing the nest gone.

“There’s part of my home!”

And with that look down to the water, the male Osprey took flight and flew down to a stick that he sighted (I didn’t!) and brought it back to the platform.

Got it!

To the platform!

The Osprey placed the stick, sat a minute and then took flight out of sight.

With all their troubles, is that Osprey perserverance or what?!!  I was all smiles.  An hour later, the sun was shining through the clouds and I took another photo.  More stick(s) were added in the last hour.  YAY!

A few more sticks were placed on the platform within the hour.

After taking that photo, I looked down to Lippincott’s marker and there was our Osprey pair, on their usual perch, keeping tabs from afar on their nest.

Enjoying a rest after the brutal storm and a little nest rebuilding.

Here’s hoping our Osprey pair remain comfortable in trying to rebuild YET AGAIN another nest that they can call home.

As always, thank you for stopping by!