Nest #5335

Nickname: Orange 32 S. Branch Elizabeth River
Nest substrate: Channel Marker
Nest Location Description: On orange channel marker #32 in Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River and close to Top Rack Marina and Amber Lantern Restaurant
Nest Cam URL:
Monitoring Groups: Chesapeake Bay Osprey Watchers, The Center for Conservation Biology, Elizabeth River Project
Latitude: 36.740643
Longitude: -76.298951
Followers: None

Past Seasons

Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2018 2014

Activity reports

2014 Nest Activity Report by LibbyM
Adult arrival Nestlings 2
Nest Occupied Yes Fledglings
Nest Active Yes First chick fledging
Egg laying Chicks last observed
Incubation initiation 03/26/2014 Nest failure
Clutch hatching 05/04/2014 Reason for nest failure
2018 Nest Activity Report by Dave Gibson
Adult arrival Nestlings 2
Nest Occupied Yes Fledglings 2
Nest Active Yes First chick fledging
Egg laying Chicks last observed
Incubation initiation Nest failure
Clutch hatching Reason for nest failure

Photos of this nest

Nesting Diaries

03/12/2019 by Dave Gibson
Female was on the channel marker nest and was vocalizing when I arrived around 11 am. Pretty soon the male arrived carrying a large stick. He proceeded to fly past her and deposited the stick on top of a nearby crane. I wasn't sure what he was doing, but I've observed similar behavior before.

03/09/2019 by Dave Gibson
Got there around 9 am. Bingo. I no sooner arrived than I heard the female vocalize. She was on the nest. Her mate was flying towards her with several large sticks. He arrived, arranged a few of the sticks that were there, and they settled in.

09/01/2018 by Dave Gibson
No sign of anything on or around nest. There were Ospreys around, but most likely associated with the communication tower nest. Juveniles have fledged. In all likelihood they fledged toward end of July.

07/27/2018 by Dave Gibson
One juv. on nest. No sign of second. I'd be willing to bet that both juvs. have fledged. See second photo, first row.

07/22/2018 by Dave Gibson
Observed briefly. Heard Ospreys, but didn't see any.

07/14/2018 by Dave Gibson
Observed adult and 1 of the juveniles in the nest. The juvenile is big. Not sure if juveniles have fledged yet. Latest photo is 2nd photo. Unfortunately, one can't arrange the photos in order.

06/23/2018 by Dave Gibson
I've been wrong all along. There are 2 chicks in the nest! I just couldn't see them. Eggs probably WERE laid in mid-April. Today I observed 1 nestling, but the adult female clearly fed a second that wasn't visible. I observed the adult female feeding both. The male was there a well on the channel marker light. Please see latest photo.

06/21/2018 by Dave Gibson
Female still incubating. It's getting late! I'm probably wrong re: when eggs were laid. They were likely laid later than mid-April and more like mid-May.

05/26/2018 by Dave Gibson
Observed late am. Two Ospreys on nest. I believe the female is still incubating.

05/17/2018 by Dave Gibson
Observed in am. Since I was here last the pair (though most likely the male) has added more nesting material including what looks like part of a white bed sheet! Female in large nest. My guess; she's still incubating. Here's another guess: eggs were laid somewhere around mid-April. So hatchlings should arrive toward the end of May or beginning of June.

04/21/2018 by Dave Gibson
Female hunkered down in nest and male close by on a limb. The female is likely incubating.

04/09/2018 by Dave Gibson
Observed early pm. One Osprey on and around nest. Nest is still not large. No sign of incubating.

03/22/2018 by Dave Gibson
Both adults on nest, and again chasing off Brown Pelicans. Nest noticeably larger. No sign of incubating.

03/18/2018 by Dave Gibson
Observed nest late am. Two Ospreys on nest. Not much to this nest yet. When the nest was vacated, it was briefly taken over by a pair of cormorants. They were later chased off. Observed Osprey attack pelican that was close to nest.

03/17/2018 by Dave Gibson
Single Osprey on nest and on marker. Some vocalizing. Nesting material on platform. Two Bald Eagles (adult and juv.) in vicinity, and some tussling observed.

06/15/2014 by LibbyM
Two chicks 6 weeks old. Adult female present.