Nesting Diaries
As usual, this pair, Annie and Walter were the first to arrive back on the James River in the Varina area. This makes four years in a row I believe. They had to start from scratch with their nest and have been quite busy building. Their nest is looking well formed and full right now.
Saw the female osprey in this nest today. Saw her about 7:30am. Assumed she just got here today or yesterday. No sticks present at first sighting, but by 10am she had about three sticks on the nest site. Saw her carrying one, which was stick number three.
Just a quick note, but for the third year in a row, this nest has had the first osprey back on site. Three years in a row observed to be first one in the first three days of March.
This pair is definitely feeding a chick or chicks. Just about all osprey in the area are still incubating eggs, but I have not been on the water in four days, so I am sure much has changed. Hope to make it out tomorrow if the weather holds.
Looks like once again, they are the first pair of osprey in the general area on the James to have had an egg hatch. The parents are certainly, at this point, feeding chicks and have been for days now.
Looks like parent is feeding today. Possible 1st hatch.
March 4, 2013. This pair continues to construct their nest on the upriver side of channel marker 146. Gradually, a number of osprey are returning to the area, but none yet have began construction of their nest.
The photo posted is of the male and female on the nest site, channel marker 146. There are roughly 50 branches already in place on the western side of the marker. This photo was taken March 2, 2013 about 7:50am.