Just before crossing the bridge to enter Eastern Neck NWR, there is a man-made Osprey platform on the right, alongside the road before the boathouse.
The Osprey familiy there are always a delight to see each time I go to the refuge. Mostly I say, “Good Morning!” to them out my passenger window as they watch me pass by.
There’s nowhere to pull over for photos, but I’ve gotten a few shots from my car window when I’m heading back out and pass by them again that are too good to pass over. 🙂 Besides, haven’t ya’ll missed my Osprey photos?!! 😉
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Osprey Dad
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Osprey Mom drying off after a wash
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“The Snag” next to the platform, perfect for watch, used continuously all summer
Mom at top, Dad below
(Osprey females are larger than males)
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They were a great team, successfully rearing two beautiful chicks!
It was not easy for nest shots, but one instance I had to try for one to show the nest and Mom’s developing garden.
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Osprey Mom and one of two chicks peeking through
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Dad doing a 180° neck-turn to get those big eyes on me
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“Wait, let me turn it even more to see what’s over there…..”
(amazing how far an Osprey can turn it’s head!)
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Another time to get a nest shot. Mom must have requested full landscaping this year, eh?!
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Nest with growing landscaping and one of two chick
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Osprey chick practicing wing-flapping
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And now it is already that time of the season for our huge Chesapeake Bay Osprey population to begin migrating to South America for the winter.
It appears Osprey Mom may have already left for her winter vacation (the female adults leave first around now). The past week only dad was seen sitting nearby while the two siblings sat on “The Snag”….
Where they cry, cry, cry, begging for food! Dad ignores them.
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Osprey youngster (male) belting out another crying session
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Other youngster (female) looking to see if Dad’s going to respond
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These two Osprey youngsters are now in the last of their few weeks here on the Chesapeake Bay. They’ve been practicing their flight maneuvers and fishing skills daily for weeks, but Mom and Dad were always assisting with extra food.
They are now getting the hard lesson from Dad that they are on their own to fish and feed themselves. This should force the youngsters to become skilled fishermen so they each can survive their long, migrating journey to South America on their own, to live 1 1/2 years there, and then return back to the Chesapeake Bay in Spring 2024 to start their own families.
