Watching for Osprey
It is the first week of March and getting to be that time of year again.
Time for the return of the Chesapeake Bay Osprey!
Osprey – Harris Creek jetty (July 2018)
The Chesapeake Bay Osprey departed August/September (some stragglers in October) last year and have been ‘vacationing’, each on their own, down in the Caribbean and South America.
Osprey – Tuckahoe Creek (July 2018)
Osprey – Choptank River (July 2018)
The adult Osprey should be heading back now, with an instinctive pull to return to their previous summer home grounds.
Osprey and nest – Tuckahoe Creek (July 2018)
So, if you were following me last summer, that means…….
Yes! If all went well during their separate migrations and winters, both Bella and Beau should be heading home now to Cambridge Creek!
“You mean us?” 🙂
Bella and Beau (April 2018)
In general, the males return first, followed by the females usually within the following week. So we should see Beau first, by mid-March. He’ll hang around the platform, and wait/rest/feed. No home building or repairs will begin until the lady of the house is home.
Bella telling Beau to get more sticks or food (May 2018)
All Osprey chicks born in 2018 (including Bella & Beau’s two chicks) will not return but stay another full year down in the tropics, learning to take care of themselves and basically enjoy their new life before they return as an adult in 2020.
Bella, Beau and their chicks (June 2018)
Bella and her two chicks (July 2018)
I’ve seen my first Osprey in past years as early as today, March 5th. So I will not be surprised to see eBird and MD Birding pages start lighting up with shares of their ‘first’ Osprey sightings of the season and where any day.
Bella, Beau and chicks (July 2018)
And so we wait. And watch. And listen.
You can bet, for us locals, it is an exciting time for the return of the Chesapeake Bay Osprey!
UPDATE: I saw my first Osprey on the distant cell tower across our creek on March 12th! Hmmmm….one of Beau’s and Bella’s perches. Could it be one of them? Time will tell!
Photos by Donna 
Enjoyable photos and a good reminder of the Osprey family. You are lucky to have that sign of spring so early. This morning it is -9º here and spring seems so far away.
Brrrrrrr…..you just made me real cold! 😲 I do wonder when ours do return, what they must think, having left such a nice, warm climate and then arrive back to the Chesapeake Bay and throughout the Northeast to freezing temps at night and 30-40º’s during the day for several weeks before our temps start climbing for Spring.
I can’t wait!! I’m hoping our ‘Betty and Barney’ return safely and start their 6th year of nesting in our cove. In the meantime I have seen a great blue heron on their platform gathering a few twigs, as he did last year. However, with the return of the osprey, that all ends. Love your photos and will be watching this year’s developments!
Thank you, Susan, I hope Betty & Barney return as well for you!! Rue the GBH (or any other bird!) for even thinking of being on an Osprey platform in March and getting caught! 😅 😂
I’m getting excited, so you must be sooper-dooper excited for their return. Can’t wait… 😊
Thank you, Mike! My eye is to the sky everywhere I go! 😊
Better watch that you don’t bump into anything then! 😉
….or fall into the creek! hee hee
That came fast! I am looking forward to seeing the images and reading your updates on the pair.
Didn’t it?!! Fingers crossed for another successful season……and maybe we’ll have a real nest this year! (you listening, Beau?) 😉
I do hope they’re better nest builders this season too.😁
Can’t wait to see your first sighting photos. The earliest I’ve seen them here is the end of March but with the winter we’ve been having, they may not want to come back. 🙂
It’d be best if ours waited just a few weeks longer for warmer weather, but they never do. Some of the Northeast returnees will even possibly experience a little snow after they arrive. It must be a shell-shock to them!
That is exciting. I hope that you don’t have to wait too long.
Me either! 🙂
I’ve been wondering about Bella and Beau. I’m going to watching this space with eager anticipation….
Thank you, Chris! Think good vibes with me for their return!
I do hope so. I think there is some plans to harvest eggs and use the southern white rhino as a surrogate.
How exciting to know that they will be back before long. I remember your wonderful posts from last year. 😍
Thank you, Sylvia, it was a wild season last year! 😊
The Ospreys are usually very punctual and methodic. So take note of the dates when they arrive. Get all your photo gears ready and give them a :welcome home” gallery. Are you getting anxious with anticipation my friend?… I would! 🙂
Yes, they are, and I’m ready, HJ! 😊
Breeding along the South Carolina coast now. You should see yours pretty soon.
Already making little Osprey chicks, yay! You’re fortunate the Osprey reside year-round along the SC coasts.
Yes, but because we are all swamps and marshes they are hard to see. So much space here that there’s no need to be near people. Up north we could easily watch them hunt.
Such a good looking family! I look forward to the return of Bella and Beau😊
They are, aren’t they? 😊 Think good vibes with me for their return!
It is nice to see a nest in a tree, as I am so used to seeing them on platforms. (almost made a poem out of that). Do you know if the offspring come to the same area where they were born? Regardless, I am excited for the return of Bella and Beau!
A poem you did! I collected photos from last summer of other Osprey nests in our area and will do so again this year. I’ll put together a post on Osprey nests, maybe Beau will read it and take note, ha! Yes, the offspring do return to the same general area where they were born by instinct.
Let’s hope they will make it back safely, and will have another successful breeding season (and maybe a slightly better nest 😊).
Recalling the severe storms that occurred down the coast at migration time is in the back of my mind, so I’m thinking good thoughts and keeping fingers crossed they both have been sunning in the tropics all winter (and Beau hopefully took an architect class) and truly are on their return. 😊
I second your thoughts and wishes, Donna!
Such exciting times! Keeping fingers crossed they will return safely and soon. Beautiful photos as always ❤
Thank you, Takami, me too! I bet Bella sports a beautiful tropical tan when she’s back! 😊
Wow Donna! Something to look forward to! Always fun to photograph Ospreys!
Thanks Reed! I agree!
It’s pretty exciting isn’t it? Loved seeing the osprey shots from last year (especially with the chicks).
It is…. 😊 No sighting yet. We were around the Chesapeake Bay coast most of day today, I thought I might see one then. Soon! I am patient.
Patience, grasshopper! 😀
Patience has paid off…. 😊
Photographed an Osprey this afternoon when I got home on the distant cell tower across my creek. Could it be Beau? 😉
Hope so!!!
We’re having an influx of hummingbirds. Trying to sort out the difference between the Rufous and Allen’s. Something to do with the tips of the tail feathers. 🙄
#2 with its perfect ‘fore and aft’ prey, is terrific. They all are, really!
Thank you, RH! 😊
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