Bella & Beau 2018: Good News, Sad News, and Another Nest Attack
(Osprey nest location: Cambridge, Maryland, USA)
June 6, 2018
A lot has happened since last week’s post announcing the arrival of Bella & Beau’s two chicks. The good news it is wonderful to report they are thriving and growing. Look how big they are as of today!
Bella along side their chicks while Beau keeps a lookout for intruders. (6/6/18)
Following my last post and another day of rainy weather, I was looking through my binoculars and had to rub my eyes twice and look again. Was I seeing a third hatchling? Here’s two photos.
Bella and her three chicks.
All three chicks with mouths opened, begging for Bella’s next piece of fish.
I watched Bella feed the three chicks for two days. And then the weather went foul again. For two days it rained, many times it down-poured. It got quite chilly, almost cold.
Bella spread over her chicks while enduring a heavy mid-morning downpour 6/3/18.
Finally the precipitation stopped, and Monday we started drying out. I watched for feedings to get a head count and take more photos to post. Beau was back at work bringing fish to the nest.
Beau delivering a headless fish to the nest. He ate the rest enroute.
Beau delivering another headless fish to the nest.
I watched for three days, and come to the sad news. Unfortunately, there are now only two chicks showing at all the feedings. The third chick possibly succumbed to the torrential rains and cold, or maybe it didn’t get fed during the quick intermittent feedings. Whatever happened….poor baby….
Only two chicks at feeding.
Only two chicks at feedings.
We’ll stay positive for the two healthy chicks, right?!!
Oh boy, that nest. Yes, the size and structure of Bella & Beau’s nest is terrible, showing young Bella & Beau’s inexperience with building. And, it is not for lack of trying! Although the nesting cup seems much improved and now enlarged, the outer walls of the nest seem to lessen more and more.
Nest on 5/29/18. Nest today, 6/6/18.
We now have an even larger pile of sticks on the dock that have fallen off the nest. More goes into the water and float away.
Sticks that have fallen off the nest above.
I did capture Beau attempting to get a little branch that was afloat, but all he got was a nice bath instead. Notice the Barn Swallow photo-bombing the end of the slideshow.
Bella & Beau continue to fiercely protect their family. Besides the intruding local Osprey pair still flying overhead to irritate, Great Blue Herons keep coming around. All are quickly chased away.
And then today I watched a second attack on Bella & Beau’s nest, this time from a Bald Eagle. I was horrified.
Bald Eagle flying down towards Bella & Beau’s nest.
Beau saw the incoming Eagle and takes flight. Bella was feeding the chicks and looks up at the Eagle, starts screaming, and also took flight.
I was shocked Bella left the nest. A chick is sitting up, looking around at all the commotion.
I watched in horror as the Eagle swooped down to the nest, and I know I screamed. Beau dove at the Eagle at lightning speed, thwarting the Eagle’s direction, missing the nest.
Beau upper left corner after attacking Eagle. thwarting his attack on the nest.
The Bald Eagle circles around for another attack!
Another swoop down to the nest! I heard myself scream again, “NOOOOO!” Both Beau and Bella were right behind the Eagle, and the Eagle turned away again from their attacks.
An angry Eagle not getting a chance to attack the nest.
Bella landed back on the nest to better guard it.
Meanwhile, Beau stays on the Eagle, forcing him out of the area.
I watched Beau chase that Eagle until I could no longer see either of them. Now I was worried. Did the Eagle actually grab a chick and Beau knew it? I grabbed my binoculars and looked at the nest. Whew, both chicks were accounted for!
I feel for Bella and Beau. They are both exhausted as it is, and then have to fight for theirs and their chicks’ lives. In this next photo, I captured where Bella didn’t even wake up to Beau arriving with a fish. Beau stayed in place with it to wait until Bella was ready. He then fell asleep too.
Two exhausted parents.
After a beautiful today, clouds moved in for the evening as the sun was setting. I checked on the family and found the two chicks sitting up, looking around. They are growing like weeds. The oldest chick is now about 2 1/2 weeks old and the second about 2 weeks old.
Bella preening while her two chicks take a glimpse at their new world.
At sunset, the sun blazed the horizon, ending a chaotic day. I hope we don’t have too many more days like this one.
Bella & Beau’s nest platform is to the far right over the water in the photo.
I’m slipping in another sunset shot from the day before, it was too pretty not to share. 🙂
Bella & Beau’s nest platform is to the far right in the photo. Beau is perched on it in this one while Bella broods the chicks.
We have two upcoming gorgeous days, followed by a weekend of nasty weather again. All this is the daily life of the Osprey.
(For all the posts on Bella & Beau’s 2018 season, you can click HERE.)
An Osprey Meal
At Blackwater NWR, a female Osprey is watching while filling the refuge’s quietness with chirp……chirp….chirp…..chirp…..
Female Osprey brooding while watching & waiting on her mate to bring her a meal.
Her mate is in sight just across the way, perched in a tree with their meal. He hears her. But first, he will eat his part of the meal, the head of the fish. The rest will be hers and any possible hatchlings.
Male Osprey eating the head off the fish before delivering it to his mate. He’s looking across at his partner who is chirping for him to hurry up!
At another Osprey nest, a brooding female watches her mate eat right in front of her. He, too, will eat just the head.
Another Osprey pair with the male eating the fish’s head before passing it over to his partner.
Word from Blackwater NWR is there appears to be hatchlings at their multiple Osprey nests, including the two above. How wonderful for the Osprey!
Bella & Beau 2018: Hello World!
(Osprey nest location: Cambridge, Maryland, USA)
May 31, 2018
In Bella & Beau’s last couple posts, I had noted I was seeing changes in behavior at their nest for the last two weeks. Were they indications of one or more hatchlings? Or bad news?
The behavior changes:
1. Bella & Beau both staring down into their nest with inquisitive looks.
2. Bella not leaving the nest to eat as normal, instead staying put while doing head movements mimicking gentle feedings within the nest.
3. Bella actually not leaving the nest much at all, a quick fly around and back to the nest to incubate/brood.
4. Beau stopped incubating altogether. He just stared into the nest and was on guard while Bella did some quick flights overhead.
5. Nest protection became more fierce.
I can now officially say and show Bella & Beau have had not one, but two successful hatchings!
Hello World!
Bella & Beau’s two chicks, looking at Mama Bella for another bite.
(Without that ugly white circle!)
Unfortunately our weather has been mostly cloudy with more rain this past week, so my photos aren’t the greatest, and cropping doesn’t help.
I am also watching the nest with my binoculars, and I’ve been able to see the two chicks sit up quite steady, looking strong and healthy. First-born Chick #1 is a little bigger than #2 but hasn’t yet quite gotten into dominating the feedings as the first-born normally starts doing. So Chick #2 is getting fed quite well also which is awesome.
Mama Bella feeding Chick #1.
Mama Bella then proceeds to give Chick #2 his bite.
The looks that Bella & Beau give while staring at each other and into the nest are priceless. With the inexperience they both have shown this season, these chicks may be their first brood.
Bella had just returned from a swim. Both chicks are side by side, staring at her behind a stick.
Beau taking a curious look as Bella feeds the chicks.
A tired Bella & Beau look like they’re wondering what they got themselves into.
And now the work really begins for Bella & Beau. Bella’s demands are constant. She wants both nesting materials and fish meals.
Bella telling Beau she wants something.
Beau took off to get Bella’s demand, but I didn’t get to see him return to find out what it was.
Bella, in the meantime, is starting to get some reprieve with longer flights and perching away from the nest as the approximately two-week old chicks are now brooded or shaded intermittently from the sun and rain.
You’re going to be amazed on watching these chicks as they begin their fast growth. In two more weeks, they will have reached about 70-75% of their adult weight. They will be fledging in about six weeks.
With such bad weather and the past intruding Osprey pair attack, it is nice to give some good news on Bella & Beau this time. Hopefully the sun will come out this week at one point for better images of the chicks as well as other updates on the family.
As I end and publish this post, a thunderstorm is descending upon the area. Protect those babies, Bella!
(For all the posts on Bella & Beau’s 2018 season, you can click HERE.)
She’s A Survivor
From my balcony, I have been watching and photographing another one of my ‘backyard’ birds for a couple months now, a female Canvasback.
Because she is still here in Maryland and had not migrated to the northwest U.S. and Canada to breed, and she looked healthy, I knew that she was probably injured.
I instantly smile when I see her, swimming around, in and out of the marinas, going up and down the length of the creek. I named her Cassie.
Female Canvasback “Cassie”
I also love watching Cassie take her ‘baths’, she looks like she enjoys them so much. It was when I first saw her dunking and stretching that I observed Cassie’s right wing was severely damaged.
Despite her injury, here’s a beautiful Canvasback bathing in a nine-frame slideshow!
Female Canvasback enjoying a few dunks and stretches. Notice her injured right wing.
To get out of the creek periodically, Cassie uses marina ladders and woodwork under the docks and around the bulkheads. Here she can preen and rest a little out of the water.
Female Canvasback resting on a marina ladder.
Female Canvasback preening on another marina ladder just below me.
Cassie is a welcomed sight, no matter the weather.
A shower begins to fall on Cassie.
With her disability, Cassie will have it rough the rest of her life as she continues to survive the challenging world surrounding her.
I will continue to enjoy the opportunities I get to watch Cassie. She’s a sweetheart.
Cassie smiling for the world!
And for now……she’s a survivor.
Bald Eagle
Maryland’s Blackwater NWR has the largest concentration of breeding Bald Eagles on the East Coast, north of Florida. During the winter, the population soars with transients.
Even though I see at least one Bald Eagle at almost every visit, I still feel lucky and get excited each time.
Most times they are flying high in the sky or perched too far off for great photos. Just seeing Bald Eagles in their realm is rewarding. And sometimes you get lucky with a close fly-by or find one a little closer to the wildlife drive for a photographic opportunity.
Bald Eagle at Blackwater NWR
Just something so beautifully majestic about them makes the Bald Eagle one of my top favorite birds.
Bella & Beau 2018: Nest Protection and Attack
(Osprey nest location: Cambridge, Maryland, USA)
May 27, 2018
Since their last post, the skies cleared and Bella & Beau were able to dry out in the sunshine and breezes. They have continued to show great interest on something that’s within their nesting cup. Both parents are also still getting up and down more often while incubating/brooding.
Dare I say it? Okay…..with my binoculars I’ve seen Bella trying to feed. She picks at something within the nest, and then gently moves her head and goes back down with it. Bella watches for a bit, and then tries again or resettles back onto the nest.
I love watching the parents peering down in the nest. Sometimes you see a look of bewilderment. Or a questioning look. Or maybe a bit of a scared look.
Bella & Beau are always looking down into the nest.
The nest is getting a bit bigger but still has a long ways to go if it’s going to harbor one or more chicks safely.
Bella smiling for the camera.
Keeping up with his chores while staying close to the nest, Beau still tries to fish here in the creek.
Beau circling the creek looking for a fish to snatch.
Suddenly, Beau spots a fish in the water.
No luck this time, so Beau gave up and took off for the river.
With so much around them, protection of the Osprey nest is constant. If only one parent is on the nest, naps are seconds in length. Eyes reopen quickly for a look, then close back for a 10-second nod. When one is perched at home, the other can get a deeper sleep.
Beau scratching with those enormous, sharp talons while on nest protection duty, giving Bella a chance to sleep.
Bella & Beau have been relentless with harmless ‘scare’ attacks against Gus, the Canada Goose. Gus seems to have had enough and moved on for now. I miss his honking, although I’m guessing Bella & Beau do not.
Gus says, “I am outta here!”
Besides, Bella & Beau have others to deal with, like Eagles passing over.
American Bald Eagle
This morning I heard chaos and watched Bella chase a black crow. Photos were lousy.
Bella in pursuit of a black crow flying over the nest.
The Great Blue Herons are definitely unliked. I’ve seen three at one time perched around the creek, so they are often visiting or flying through. No matter, Bella & Beau forces them away when they’re too close for comfort.
Osprey attacks on Great Blue Herons
Yesterday, there was a traumatic attack on the nest that still has me rattled. As I watched Beau making his way across the sky with a stick, Bella started screaming and looking up. Overhead the other local Osprey pair were circling above the nest. They do this every day, always agitating Bella & Beau. No big deal, right?
Intruding Osprey pair circling over Bella in the nest.
Beau heard Bella and sees them too.
Beau rushes to the nest while he watches the intruding Osprey overhead.
Beau arrived to the nest and took an immediate defense stance alongside Bella. Both are now screaming frantically. Quite unexpectedly to me, one of the intruding overhead Osprey dive-bombed the nest.
What the heck just happened? I think my heart jumped out of my chest right then. Bella & Beau were still screaming. As the first intruder circled around the nest…..
Osprey intruder circling around.
…..suddenly, the second intruding Osprey dive-bombed the nest. I captured shots this time.
Second intruding Osprey attacking Bella & Beau in their nest.
Bella & Beau are now in high-defense mode. Their screams are ear-piercing.
Bella & Beau (foreground) watching and screaming at the intruding Osprey circling.
Bella & Beau see a third attack coming!
Beau spreads his wings to cover the nest while Bella screams frantically.
One of the intruding Osprey swoops in again.
Intruding Osprey swoops down over Bella & Beau for a third attack.
Then just as quickly as the attacks started, the traumatic event was over, and the intruding Osprey flew off together. Bella & Beau finally calmed down and quickly view their nest.
Bella & Beau viewing their nesting cup after the attacks.
I truly hope no damage occurred within the nest. 😦
I have not seen the local intruding Osprey pair do this before, nor any other time of pairs over the years. I contacted one of the Osprey experts at Blackwater NWR and asked about this attack. Lisa commented, “It’s not uncommon for a single intruder Osprey that is unmated and without a nest to try and push in on a couple. Often they want to replace one of the pair and become the new adult at the nest. They’ll even do it when eggs or chicks are already there. Sometimes the new adult will kick out the eggs or get rid of the chicks. It’s like they know the chicks are not theirs.”
Bella & Beau’s attack was by an established pair so the attack doesn’t make so much sense.
“About the best you can hope for is the adults will drive off any intruders, and the intruders will give up before the eggs/chicks are harmed.”
I know the intruding Osprey live close by, having not been successful with mating and eggs. They do seem to torment poor Bella & Beau every day.
Since the attack, business seems as usual at the nest. Beau’s bringing sticks, Bella’s tending to the nest, and nest protection continues.
Bella & Beau early this morning after a night of showers.
After such a suspenseful post, I’ll end with some pretty images of Bella & Beau that’ll hopefully help calm down your racing heart… or is it just mine?
Beau taking flight from the nest while Bella incubates.
Bella
Beau
Bella
The coming week’s forecast is calling for mostly cloudy, humid conditions with rain and t-storms. Hopefully, it won’t be too rough on Bella & Beau as they continue to instinctively protect and care for their nest and each other.
(For all the posts on Bella & Beau’s 2018 season, you can click HERE.)
Catching Up With Those South Carolina Birds – Part 4
This past January to March, I had numerous sightings of wintering Loons along the South Carolina coastline, both far out in the distance Atlantic Ocean or up in the marshes around Murrell’s Inlet, and have shared some already.
Before departing the area, I got one more chance to watch a Red-throated Loon as he dived, stretched his wings, and basically just looked pretty in his winter plumage in the turquoise waters.
Red-throated Loon in winter plumage.
Red-throated Loon in winter plumage.
All was fine and dandy, the loon was diving and resurfacing, although I’m not sure if it was catching anything. I never saw a catch in its mouth.
And then someone arrived to see what was going on.
Laughing Gull also watching the Red-throated Loon.
The Red-throated Loon was also watching the Laughing Gull.
Red-throated Loon ‘eye-balling’ the Laughing Gull perched on a piling overhead.
Finally, the Laughing Gull dropped and swooped in for the steal while the Red-throated Loon quickly dove. You can still see the darkness of the loon as he was diving down. I’m not sure if the gull actually took something from the loon, or had grabbed something already floating in the water.
Laughing Gull swooping in ‘for the steal’ while the Red-throated Loon is diving down below him.
The Red-throated Loon was not amused with the Laughing Gull and started swimming out of the inlet.
Red-throated Loon
The pelicans and gulls are real smart on how to get an easy meal by stealing from the diving cormorants and loons at Murrell’s Inlet.
Bella & Beau 2018: No Firm News Yet
(Osprey nest location: Cambridge, Maryland, USA)
May 20, 2018
Since their last post, Bella & Beau have been trying to keep to their nesting duties while Mother Nature has brought them showers, rain, thunderstorms, hail, and winds with gusts up to 60 mph, with heavy rains the last couple days.
This weather has been disheartening. Heavy rains for long periods during the hatching time period can be challenging for successful, healthy hatchlings.
Several days were like this, just wet and yucky.
Poor Bella…..
Bella enduring the rain.
Bella enduring the rain.
Bella spread low and tightly protecting her egg clutch while rain pours.
By calculations, an egg could have hatched. I have been watching Bella & Beau with 20×80 binoculars and looking for behavioral changes. Here’s what I noted.
When changing over incubating duties, both parents are now peering down in the nest and staring, before settling back on the nest cup and egg(s).
Many times, I’ve also seen Bella make a sudden movement, then get up, and resettle. Or she keeps her head down low for a brief moment, head moving gently.
With all this, it does seem like something is going on, but it is too early to confirm if there has been a successful hatching.
Bella inspecting her nesting cup.
Two to three days before a hatching, an Osprey egg “stars” (first cracks). Then about 12 hours before hatching, the chick’s beak creates a pip hole and begins the long hours of trying to exit the egg. A chick may chirp faintly, especially if distressed.
Bella inspecting the nesting cup.
We wonder what Bella is seeing and thinking.
A newly hatched Osprey chick is very weak in movement but can briefly beg, so the female parent will try to feed it very small bits of fish starting the first day. I’ve been watching for a chick feeding by Bella, but the foul weather has really made it difficult to see what she is doing when she is doing something down low.
To see an Osprey egg hatch, water this 2015 Video from the Audubon’s Osprey cam. The other two chicks in the video would be approximately 3-4 days and 6-8 days old. You will enjoy it.
In the meantime, Beau has been busy with his parental chores:
Beau has been bringing Bella food….
Here Bella is already screaming for the fish as Beau brings it in.
Bella is quite loud as she demands the fish.
Beau frantically releases the fish and Bella snatches it.
Bella immediately takes flight with her meal.
Bella flies over to the other side of the creek and….
Up to one of her favorite perches to enjoy her meal, all while in perfect view of her nest.
Beau has been bringing nesting materials….
Beau delivering nesting materials to the nest, yes, even in the rain
Lots of soft nesting cup materials too. The left nest is dated 5/17/18, the right is 5/19/18.
And Beau has been protecting the nest. If you are another Osprey, Bald Eagle, Canada Goose, Cormorant, or Great Blue Heron, it would be best if you do not try to fly over or swim in the vicinity of Bella & Beau’s nest. A possible attack will occur!
Beau giving a warning in the rain to a passerby.
By late afternoon, the clouds were breaking apart and the sun started shining. The upcoming week’s forecast promised better weather, with little rain. It’s been a tough several days for Bella & Beau, but all seemed good when the sun was setting over Bella.
Sun setting over Cambridge Creek and Bella & Beau’s osprey nest – 5/19/18
Bella at sunset.
Much of above was already written yesterday, but I wasn’t able to finish last night. I had a few hours this morning before my day out, so I took a few more photos to share some more interesting action.
Bella is looking and seems to be interested with something.
Bella and Beau taking a look, probably wondering, now what?
Here’s a few final photos of some more profile favorites I’ve not yet shared I think you will enjoy.
Bella standing while Beau is incubating.
Bella incubating while Beau is perched.
Beau incubating.
Bella is incubating while Beau is perched.
Bella & Beau
One more thing, I had a request to make a Page Tab at the top of my blog to make it easier to find all the posts on Bella & Beau, and so created a Page Tab “2018 Osprey Bella & Beau” under the photo header. All posts on Bella & Beau are accumulating here for easier access to a previous post if this helps anyone else.
As for Bella & Beau, fingers crossed for a great week for them.
(For all the posts on Bella & Beau’s 2018 season, you can click HERE.)
More Birds At The Refuge, And A Few Turtles
The following birds are in full force at Blackwater NWR. If you don’t see one of these, I would be quite shocked.
It is not at all hard to find the loud and boisterous Red-winged Blackbirds, who are excited the females are back and Spring is here. This one stopped long enough to give me a profile shot.
Red-winged Blackbird (male)
The Least Terns were all over the waters, flying and diving for fish. They were so fast, I didn’t try much with them…..and then I later downloaded the next photo. I was pleasantly surprised.
Least Tern
I was amazed on how many Eastern Kingbirds I’ve seen in my visits. They are so pretty with their white-edged wings and tails.
Eastern Kingbird
As for other wildlife, even the turtles are out in full force, sunning and smiling. One was practicing swimming in air.
(Someone please correct my turtle ID if it is wrong!)
Eastern Painted Turtles
Eastern Painted Turtles
“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.”
— Frank Lloyd Wright
(All photos taken at Blackwater NWR, Cambridge, Maryland)
Two More “Reds” at Blackwater NWR
(Photos taken at Blackwater NWR, Cambridge, Maryland)
One of my last posts I shared a male Summer Tanager, a gorgeous red bird I photographed at BNWR.
I also captured two more “reds” while at the refuge I wanted to share.
Red #1 – One beauty with distinctive contrasting colors of red, black, and white is the Red-headed Woodpecker.
Red-headed Woodpecker
Both males and females look alike.
Red-headed Woodpecker
How nice that he/she gave a look my way!
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red #2 – Slowly cruisin’ further along the wildlife drive taking photos, we came around a corner, and happened upon a Red Fox walking along the drive, several hundred feet ahead of us.
Red Fox
The Red Fox kept walking so we kept a safe distance and slowly followed. To be honest, I don’t know if it was actually aware of us yet.
By now, the drive was crossing marshes on both sides. Coming up to a sharp road curve to the right, the Red Fox came to a stop (as did we), turned, and looked left across the water.
The Red Fox never looked our way. He has to know we’re sitting there a couple hundred feet away in our black SUV, doesn’t he?
“Wait, where am I? Something’s not right. Did I make a wrong turn?”
Not taking his eyes off looking across the water, he turned and started heading back towards us. I slipped back in the car and closed my door enough to not allow a noise, and we sat still while he walked right on past us and continued back down the drive where we had all just come from.
“Darn, now I gotta walk nonchalantly past this thing that was following me.
I just won’t look at it, and hopefully it will leave me alone.”
Before we had sighted the Red Fox, there was a side road to fields that connects to the wildlife drive, which is where he probably came from, accidentally turning right instead of left, and then finally realizing he was not where he thought or was supposed to be.
We enjoyed the encounter, especially me capturing these best shots to date of the gorgeous Red Fox.
Bay Photos by Donna 