It's located in the tallest pine tree, next to N Sea Pines Drive, and overlooking the lagoon by the 18th green of the Atlantic Dunes golf course. If you're standing at the back of the 18th green, and next to the lagoon, turn to your left a little and look up. This nest is within a mile of nest 7428 and about the same distance off the beach.
I wouldn’t characterize it as a failure. It was more of an issue with construction delays on their new nest that pushed back the optimal timing for a successful hatching. Actually, it can be seen as prudent parenting on their part.
David L reports: The photos are of the mother and young sharing a meal three days ago. (8/3) Two days ago (8/4) our youngster was perched out as far from the nest as he could possibly get and looking every bit the ready. Yesterday he was not to be found! He’s flown the coup. I did spot his parents on the tallest tree nearby scanning the skyline. The female looked anxious.
I went back at sunrise this morning and the female was next to the nest without Junior. The male was in a nearby tree he frequents.
It appears we’ve had a successful nesting season!
David L reports: I'm pleased to report all is well at this nest as the young Osprey continues to fledge. I took a few photos yesterday showing the male perched on a branch on a tree nearby. This was before flying back to the nest to retrieve the remnants of junior's dinner. The female was in the nest during the feeding and spent time cleaning up afterwards. As the sun was setting, the young Osprey stood on the edge of the nest and gave his wings a good test. These days, he spends a good bit of his time taking in the sights and sounds from around the nest. He's showing a lot of curiosity. It won't be long before he takes flight!
David L reports: I’m thrilled to report we have a successful hatchling. I finally have a photo of the chick in this nest. I believe there is just this one and it’s growing quickly. The female loves to chatter to her offspring. The male is frequently in a tree nearby. Everything appears to be going well!
David L reports: I finally got a glimpse of a young head popping its head up above the nest as seen in this photo. I'm not sure how many are in the nest just yet. The female has spent the week perched on the edge of the nest while looking down and talking non-stop. She's very attentive and watchful. The male comes and goes, sometimes hanging out on this tree or another close by. All seems well!
David L reports: Over the last week or so the female spends most of her time on the edge of the nest or close by. She talks quite a bit. The male is ever present. All appears to be going well. I’ve not seen any little heads popping up yet.
David L reports: I’ve got great news to report. Over the last several days the female has been behaving much differently than last week. Instead of being hunkered down and barely visible, this week she’s standing up in the nest and going through the feeding motions. I can’t tell how many eggs have hatched yet. The male is frequently seen around the nest. All appears to be well. NOTE: Based on this, we have guessed that the eggs hatched about June 10, but it is just a guess. The behavior change between the June 3 and June 12 reports let to this guess.
David L reports: The eggs haven't hatched yet but I'm optimistic they will! As of yesterday, the female continues to be hunkered down deep in the nest. You don't see her all that often unless it's to stretch out her wings as she's doing in this photo. She flapped her wings and took a quick flight before returning. As she entered the nest she carefully rocked herself side to side as she settled down deep. I think she's still sitting on eggs. The male is pictured sitting on his favorite branch above a lagoon nearby and scanning for fish. I hope to report on hatchlings next time!
David L reports: This nest is still active with both adults taking turns at hunkering down deep in the nest most of the day. There's a lot of chatter coming from the nest at times. The first photo is of the female stretching her wings before jumping back in the nest. The second photo is the male on a nearby tree. They look like they're doing all the right things.
David L reports: This nest got a late start. The first month the female wasn’t seen hunkering down in the nest like she has been in the last three weeks. She barely pokes her head above the nest most of the times now.
In the first photo, the male is departing the nest after having done his duty. The female is pictured up above. She quickly entered the nest when the male took off.
In the second photo, the male made a threatening pass at me. He was up on a pine branch and across a lagoon. I was taking his photo when all of a sudden he swooped down to the water as if to catch a fish while making a bee line right towards me. It was a graceful swoosh to within a foot of the water and then rose up 20 feet right in front of me and flashed his talons. He then flew off to my left. I think my attention is unwanted.
Hopefully we’ll see some different nesting patterns developing before long. All is well other wise.
David L reports: Over the last week or so the female has gotten serious about hunkering down in the nest. Most of the times only her head will pop up for just a moment. She seems to be preoccupied with something in the nest in this photo. The male continues to be present. Something is going on!
David L reports: All appears well at this nest. The female spends most of the time in it and she’s better about hunkering down. The male is frequently seen eating a Spanish Mackerel on a branch close to the nest. I found a half eaten one under the nest today. No sounds of hatchlings yet. I hope to hear something soon!
David L reports: My wife and I are at the nest. While I was walking around, my wife said she saw the two copulating in the nest. They’re both adding nesting material and carefully arranging the sticks.
I have yet to see or hear any hatchlings.
NOTE: This nest is difficult to figure out. While there have been reports of hatchlings, it has not been confirmed. We are going to adjust our original incubation date and now assume incubation started about 4/25.
David L reports: A neighbor near the nest reports "hearing the sounds of hatchlings".
While at the nest David reports that he took photos of the male, with streaks on his chest, sitting on a branch with a fish. The female is seen in the nest. Before long, the male brought the fish to the nest and my wife says she saw a small beak coming up to be feed. Both parents are actively bringing in more nesting material and the female is doing most of the work in adjusting the new sticks on the interior.
David L reports: I'm not sure of what I'm seeing at this nest. I've been by several times during the past week. Neither parent seems to be activily engaged with anything in the nest. They're both hanging around and adding more nesting material. Early on, the male was present. I'm not seeing a pure white chest as in the past. Could he be picking at his chest feathers and making it look a little streaked like that of a female? Or, could he have been replaced by a younger female? I did see a third bird, a male, challenge this bird the other day while perched on a branch near the nest. The male was rebuffed when she/he flew upside down and flashed its talons.
I also saw several house finches who seemed to be building a nest within and under the osprey nest. They kept going in and out and walking on top of the nest when neither osprey were present.
David L reports: The female has been hunkered down all week. I found her standing up this morning. The male was on an opposite branch. There doesn't appear to be any hatchlings yet.
David L reports: Everything seems to be going fine with this nest. The female spends most of the time in the nest but it's hard to tell if she's hunkering down on the eggs. These are the first eggs she's laid in this nest. She loves to talk! The male frequently comes by. The nest is in a perfect location above a long lagoon full of fish.
David L reports:Over the last week the female and male Osprey have been taking turns at the nest. I went by yesterday and saw the female sitting more upright in the nest and agitated at a pair of crows watching her from about 10 feet away. She would call out to them from time to time. The crows didn’t make any threatening gestures but after awhile the female flew off leaving the nest unguarded. I’m not sure if anything is in the nest because the crows didn’t make a play for it.
Today, the female is in the nest but not hunkered down.
David L reports:I’m pleased to report both the male and female Osprey are safely at the nest. They arrived sometime between Sunday and Monday afternoon on the 24th. The female is photoed above their nest and the male is captured on a pine tree close by.
David L reports: I’ve been by the nest several times this week and there is no one at the nest but there is a male Osprey who wintered in close proximity to this nest and nest 7428.
David L reports: A quick update to say I’m not sure if the pair are still hanging around. I took this photo on July 29th. I observed the female still adding a little nesting material. I didn’t see the male. I’ve not seen nor heard any of them in days. NOTE: We are making the assumption that the adults may have moved on.
NOTE: While this nest did not produce eggs/young, we believe it was due to a late start on nest building. It may have been a young pair and this might have been their first nesting attempt. We wouldn’t characterize it as a failure. It was more of an issue with construction delays on their new nest that pushed back the optimal timing for a successful hatching. Actually, it can be seen as prudent parenting on their part.
David L reports: Both the male and female Osprey are still calling this nest home. They're frequently hanging around
the nest or in a nearby tree. All is well!
David L reports: I'm not seeing any signs of nestlings present. Both adults are at the nest and taking turns adding twigs and Spanish Moss to build upon it. They aren't acting as if there's anyone to care for. This is a brand new nest. Could that have anything to do with it?
NOTE: Since this is a brand new nest and incubation behavior started in early May, it is possible that these are young, first time nesters. From what we understand, it is possible that sometimes the first nest for a young pair isn't successful. We will keep watching in hopes that there will be a nestling or two visible soon.
David L reports: I dropped by over the last couple of days and the nest is still active with both adults. The female brought back some more nesting material. I didn’t see anything that looked like they were feeding the young and didn’t hear anything. Everything else seems fine.
David L reports: I dropped by the nest this morning and found the male sitting on a branch above the nest. The female is mostly sitting low and occasionally poking up. I think she’s on her eggs. NOTE: Based on this observation, we listed 5-5 as date of incubation, but it may be earlier.
David L reports: My wife noticed this new nest in plain sight. A pair of Ospreys has begun building this nest within the last month, if not sooner. . After a while, they both flew off to separate branches on a different pine tree not far away. I don't believe they have any eggs yet.
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