Introducing Bella and Beau
(Osprey nest location: Cambridge, Maryland, USA)
April 18, 2018
We are excited with our return to the Chesapeake Bay Eastern Shore Maryland region, planting some roots in downtown Cambridge, Maryland. Settled in 1684 and located along the Choptank River, Cambridge is one of the oldest colonial cities in Maryland. It is a charming seaport community that is in the midst of an exciting renaissance of revitalization and historic preservation.
From our third-floor height balcony, I oversee Cambridge Creek that leads out to the Choptank River.
If you look closely at the above photo again, you might just see over the water to the far right what I also oversee….an Osprey nest on a pole over the docks…..
I’d like you to meet Bella and Beau!
Beau on the post, Bella in the nest
Osprey return to the Chesapeake Bay mid to late March. So these two arrived about 2-3 weeks before us and have been working on building their nest. It starts to show promise, then either the wind or just failure to stay drops the sticks to the water and dock below. They appear to be a new and/or young couple, trying to figure it all out.
Bella working on the nest while Beau keeps watch
Bella brings a piece of plastic to the nest
Beau taking a clump of grass and dirt to the nest
They enjoy flying together above their home…..
even getting close enough to give little love taps…..
building their bond as a team and hopefully soon-to-be parents this season.
Bella
Beau
Stay tuned for posts on the antics and adventures of Bella and Beau!
(For all the posts on Bella & Beau’s 2018 season, you can click HERE.)
Wonderful photos. Sounds like life has taken you in a new direction, huh! Beautiful view.
Thanks Ingrid and yep, for now! 🙂
Very cool!
Thanks, they are!
A great little love story building here Donna as they team up to hopefully materialise their love in bringing new life into the bay. Lovely shots Donna, and from a distance, well done! We are now kept in suspense as we await nesting. Have an interesting and enjoyable week!
You are so right, Ashley, such a treat to get to watch this on a daily basis again, as I did several years ago at our home on Kent Island. Have a wonderful week as well!
How nice that you’ll be in front row for illustrating your narrative with gorgeous pictures. They are a young and beautiful couple. Thanks Donna. 🙂
Thanks HJ! I am very excited with this daily treat in my life, and I will love sharing their season with you. 🙂
What a wonderful ‘window on the world’ you have Donna! I’m looking forward to updates on Bella and Beau. Our Barney and Betty have returned, and I have witnessed them mating, so I’m hoping that like you I will have a family to follow all summer. Keep us posted – and welcome back to the Chesapeake!
Thanks Susan, it is great to be back. We are so thankful for the place we found, we just want to chill and boat. 🙂 I’ll watch for Barney & Betty captures from you!
So very fortunate for you to have this picturesque water view, and a true treat to see the osprey nest building activity. A wonderful and hopeful post with excellent photos, too — thank you Donna. I especially love seeing them fly together with the sky background.
Thanks Jet! We are very fortunate to have found this place after all the looking. We have always loved the charm and quaintness of Maryland’s Eastern Shore old colonial towns. Having the Osprey nest so close to me is icing on the cake! 🙂
Wow, how glorious to be watching that from your balcony. Its going to be exciting to see how the newlyweds progress in both home building, and adding a family to their nest.
Thanks Chris! I am quite excited to get this opportunity again to easily watch Osprey on a daily basis, and then be able to share. It’s what got me started on bird photography nine years ago! 🙂
Handsome couple! They will be interesting neighbors.
Thanks Terry, I think they will!
Thank you for introducing us to Bella and Beau, Donna. What a pleasure to make their acquaintance. I look forward to getting to know them better.
You’re welcome, Tanja, I know they will be a wonderful couple to get to know!
Reblogged this on Vietnam Travel & Trade Portal .
Thank you for the reblog!
Looking forward to your photos from Cambridge, the Choptank and beyond, Donna. Thanks for sharing your view.
Thanks Martha, it is a gorgeous, serene area of nature and wildlife. I’m excited to experience it all!
Lovely images, strange to see Ospreys nesting so close to people! In this Country they are forest dwellers in northern Scotland.
Thanks Brian! On the Chesapeake Bay, the Osprey are quite tolerate of humans. Many nest on buoys and channel markers, where boats go right by without a problem, although the Osprey can get quite vocal about it. I wouldn’t get too close to a Momma though or I’d be worried she’d attack with those dagger talons! They are still fierce and very protective raptors! 🙂
Didn’t realize you live in Cambridge. Is that a change? Thought you were on Kent Island. We have very dear friends who live in Cambridge. I think I know the place you were looking out from.
We did live at Kent Island, sold that back in 2016. We’ve always loved Dorchester County by car but never experienced much of the Choptank River by boat, so we’re ‘trying out’ this area for a year or so, see if it’s the place for a home purchase. Did you guess Deep Harbour?
I don’t remember the name of the condos, but we could see them from the free tie-ups at the city wall inside the turning basin just before going under the bridge.
There are quite a few condos along the waterfront. I am all the way up Cambridge Creek on the other side of that draw bridge. 🙂
Glad you found another osprey pair to observe! Enjoy living in Cambridge, it’s a nice area.
Thanks Tammy, isn’t it neat?!! We’ve loved Cambridge & Dorchester County for a long time, did many day trips throughout over the years, always enjoying the laid-back, unspoiled serenity it offers. We are excited!
Great shots in flight! Nice to have you posting again. 🙂
Thanks Kathy! 🙂
Great, great shots Donna. Wait till you see mine shot in the Everglades recently. Congrats.
Thanks Alix! I’ll check yours out as well! 🙂
So wonderful you get to watch this beautiful pair of osprey. I look forward to more posts. Awesome pics in this post!
Thanks Kelly! I’m already enthralled with their activity. 🙂
Spectacular!!
Thank you!!
Very nice captures and post of this Osprey couple. You’ll have lots of entertainment over the coming weeks and I look forward to your documentation of this family. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Ellen, I feel so lucky to have them just outside my door and already know they are a wonderful source of entertainment. 🙂
Hooray.
🙂
Happy for you to be back in your territory as well as Bella and Beau.
Thank you Jane, I’m hoping for a great summer. 🙂
The Eastern Shore is my northern home and a great place to bird, as you know. Your Osprey photos are spectacular.
Thanks, the Eastern Shore truly is a gem!
Thanks for sharing your wonderful view and the fantastic photos and love story of Bella and Beau!🙂
Thank you, it is exciting and I’m excited to share; and, oh boy, much more fun to watch than doing housework! 🙂
Oh, Donna! These are utterly amazing shots! Lucky you to be able to see it all from your balcony. And thanks ever so much for sharing your great captures as these marvelous birds do their thing.
Thank you, Gunta, Bella & Beau will definitely highlight my summer this year. 🙂
Stunning lucky you.
Thank you! 🙂
Incredibly beautiful pictures! And how wonderful to have such a great view of this love nest pair. The promise of spring delivers! Exciting.
Thank you, Lisa! I am a lucky gal this summer. Let’s hope for some healthy chicks for me to share! 🙂