Nesting Diaries
both at nest today, female with rt leg band returned as in all the past years
adult pair remained into mid august
one deep in nest, mate on perch nearby
63, NNE 5 mph, sun, both at nest today yay!
rt leg banded female remains at nest with fledgling and mate
one growing chick on nest with female, male on nearby perch with fish
just one chick seen at this nest
neighbors tell me there are 2 chicks but i have only seen one, and today female on nest rim, male on satellite perch, no chicks seen
one chick visible at feeding time
watching for feeding behavior but still no signs of this
female deep in the nest today, male on the satellite perch
female incubating and calling for fish
female very fussy on the nest today, could be the wind and warm weather, hopefully the eggs are still viable
surprised to see one juvenile still at the nest, it was perched on the tall corner t perch this evening.
the runt appears to be catching up in size! this is great news, the adult female is rt leg banded, same female as in past few years.
to this point i was certain there was just the 2 chicks but today i did see a third that is smaller
2 chicks very visible now, mom always at nest
one chick visible today at 5 pm, mombrella on nest rim and papa flew to a nearby piling with a fish
saw one incubating deep in nest today in rain, or perhaps protecting some chicks...will try to confirm chicks tmr
female deep in nest, male on old platform perch
possible incubation since sunday but too foggy to see the nest today
one on nest perch and one on old perch at 5 pm today
both eating fish in dining snag near RT1
saw both osprey on the platform around 3 pm today, one was up on the platform T perch with the second in the nest, when i looked again 2 hrs later none were at the nest but there was many construction workers directly across the waterway.
very windy, 2 days of high wnw winds over 35 mph, but...have not seen any activity for a about 4 days, i do wonder if the home construction is keeping them away.
none seen today, a home is under construction directly across the waterway from the nesting platform, probably less than 150 ft from the birds so it may take the osprey sometime to settle for this season...
one osprey at nest off and on since 3-13-19
adult male on satellite perch as storm approached
observed the juvenile on the nest both this morning and evening, no adults seen
juvenile on the T perch of the platform today
adult female on t perch of platform eating today rt leg banded female, fledge seen earlier at snag with adult male
one chick survived to fly this season and made a brief first flight the morning of the 15th.has been enjoying the deck railings and roofs of the local homes. its a big female i think with a nice dark necklace.
unfortunately just one chick remains in this nest, and it is beginning to exercise its wings. one may have fallen out sometime after 6-19-18. or possibly it died from being caught in the nest. I put this out there as one theory only because I did not see it move when I observed feeding and the female did take the fish over to it to feed. the platform is high so it is not possible to see inside.
arrived around 2:30 today to see the male on the nests high perch with a large fish, its head partially eaten, and the female was in the nest with another fish feeding 2 chicks, there may be a third, not certain as the chicks were quite active and moving all over with wings flapping high. the female was taking the fish wherever her chicks were in the nest in order to be sure they had enough to eat, it appeared they did because they really were not too interested in momma. the male then flew over to the old perch to continue eating his catch.this is how a senior osprey pair who nests in a healthy waterway cares for their young, with an abundance of fish. no scrapping between the chicks and a happy momma. nice to observe.
rt leg banded female is on the nest, 2 chick heads vis at feeding time
this is the first feeding behavior was observed but i imagine the first chick was hatched before today
one deep in the nest around 4 pm today, still waiting to see chick feeding behavior. beautiful warm clear day, finally, no rain!
one appears to still be incubating with the other on far dock eating a fish.
one incubating, did not see mate today
male on piling near the marina today and the female in nest, got up off eggs and appeared to turn them then settled back down deep in the nest
one ospr deep in the nest at 3:30 today, did not see mate
today I was on the opposite side of the cove and saw about 8 people walking around near the platform and the 2 osprey circling them in the air. the group was digging and unaware of the birds. I drove over to the site, takes about 10 minutes to get there by car, and the osprey were circling the peoples heads and clacking loudly. clacking is how i describe the sound they make that is extreme agitation. its is the sound adult osprey make when we band their chicks. it is unmistakeable and always a sign things are not good. at this point i knew the osprey were off the eggs for at least 10-15 minutes but could have been much longer. it was 42, some sun, winds NNW 13 mph with higher gusts. I dont know how long eggs can remain viable in that temp. I called over across the channel to the people and one woman said they were doing some archeological work with permission of the state park and fish and wildlife? I tried to explain the osprey were in danger of loosing their eggs if they remained off the nest. The woman said she was not a biologist but not to worry they wouldnt harm the eggs. I again said but the adults cant get to their nest and the eggs may die. So after I left I think they moved far enough away because the female quickly landed on the nest and the male followed her. its amazing how unaware people can be of birds screaming over their heads. osprey are not gulls, they are not asking for french fries when they yell at you!
one incubating around 5:30pm today. did not see the mate.
can not see the females legs! she is always tucked when i visit her! but the nest looks a bit better and the male is busy fishing.
still have not confirmed the rt leg female has returned but the female is sticking close to the nest and the male is eating his fish back on his fave dining snag along rt. 1
The female was on the platform T perch around 3:30 pm today and her mate had a large fish he was eating on his favorite snag down the channel from her. I am 90% sure I saw the females rt leg band flicker but will confirm when the sun is not so low in the sky.
end of season: these juveniles were not in a hurry to migrate. I saw both adults perched together on the snag along Rt 1 8-23-17. the juveniles seemed to do well fishing in the ocean across the highway. 9-12 late afternoon I watched for the last time as one juve flew in with a big fish and ate it at the nest all alone. its very satisfying to see what a safe solid platform can provide an osprey family and how much enjoyment they give to their community.
the fledged young are often on the nest with both adults, the female ID by her rt leg band. one of the young may have been visiting the Joshua cove nest today as there were 4 instead of 3:)
2 chicks and adult female on nest today
3 very large chicks being fed by female today, male brought a fish that seemed to be wrapped in plastic bag. the nest is still very sparse. the chicks sit so close to the edge with no nest material to hold them in should they bobble!
5:45 pm, 3 chicks visible at feeding. They all look very good.
feeding-3 chicks visible, one much smaller,
one osprey deep in the nest today, no mate seen
Today was first day chick feeding was observed with both adults on the nest and female feeding at least one hatchling!
all looks good with this pair. some plastic bag or something like that in nest but that is pretty normal in the bay nests. the bulk-heading company will be on site for awhile longer but have not disturbed this pair.
osprey seem unfazed by the construction of a new bulkhead just across waterway from their platform, but they have had this same bulk-heading activity in past few years. female incubating today when I observed. did not see male but he was on his fave perch yesterday.
osprey still incubating with new construction directly across the waterway from the platform, approximately 75 ft away.
incubating and I see the mate along the docks or on the no wake sign
I would like to see a bigger nest but maybe after years of a flat platform and nest material blowing away these 2 just don't see the need for it... but incubating continues
one on the nest with one standing in the low tide water, just along the marsh edge. I love to see osprey enjoy the water in such a gentle way. I remember the first time I saw one standing in the shallows I thought it must be injured. and of course I realize now that they just hang out and enjoy what humans enjoy. wading!
both osprey hanging out off the nest but just beside it, one on the old platform pole, and the other on the nearby no wake sign-eating a fish.
Nest looks very good and the pair is just hanging out. The female is usually on the tall nest perch and the male prefers the snag down the channel or the piling at the marina.
Some things never change:) Today this pair was over on a favorite snag just hanging out as I hiked the trail across the waterway from their nest site.
I got a call from homeowner at nest site that the pair was on the nest yesterday. I asked her to confirm by behavior- the pair was comfortable on the nest and going about normal activities. She said yes and I asked if the female was rt leg banded as in years past, she was unable to see. Today at 4:30 pm I visited the nest site and sure enough there was the rt leg banded female and her mate. This pair is very similar in their marking with both sparse dark chest markings. he female was on the tall nest t perch and the male came and went getting nest material and placing it. She just sat and watched.
The adult male is on the top branch of the snag on Rt.1 today and one fledgling is on tree over at Fresh Pond near the platform. This is the last day I see any birds at this nesting area. Very satisfying season to see this pair thrive on their new safe platform. I will hope to see the adult female nest year, I will hope she has a rt leg band as she has the past 3 years:)
The landowner sends me a pic of the adults on the nest. One adult is fixing the nest material as the other bird perches on the nest t-perch. I have seen this behavior often before the birds migrate.Time to go....
Both adults are on their favorite snag guard tree along Rt.1The male has a large fish. I hear a fledgling near them but can not see it. The nest is empty.
the male runt fledgling is flying around the old perch and then lands on the nest and he is calling for food. I do not see any other birds today.
the interloper pretty much has remained at this nest much to the dismay of the landowners nearby. There is often the bowed head posture of the extra male and I once again see the runt hiding a fish and waiting to eat it. But I also see them all attempting to fish to various degrees of success and the adults still come and go.I think the runt is holding his own.
An interloper arrives...I think its from Quillens point nest- Now there is 2 larger fledglings on the old pole, and another fledgling (the runt?) on the nest with the adult female. the interloper flies to the nest and lands on the runt, both fly off the nest so ah ha! The runt is flying.. I thought so! After the tussle a battle ensues over a fish with the runt and interloper stealing it back and forth until the runt got it and basicly turned its back and just stood over the fish. It held its wings out very wide to cover the food! Then the adult male and the interloper went at it off and on the nest with the interloper finally just staying on the nest and lowering his head as interlopers often do in some sort of deference to the clan:0) He stayed on the nest with his head bowed for a very long time while the rest of the family went about their business.The runt ate his fish, yeah!!!
Still waiting to confirm the runt has fledged.. today its on the nest as the fledgling flies in and lands on the nest perch. no adults in view but I do know their favorite tree perch and it is out of sight of the nest...
adult male on piling eating a fish while adult female is on nest with chick or maybe it has fledged?? The other fledgling, larger chick flies off to the old pole and then adult male brings his fish and gives to adult female then he flies to the water and skims his talons clean :) I love watching them clean their talons.
Adult female (banded) on nest and 2 chicks, one a fledge, stealing a fish back and forth. I assume the runt hasn't fledged yet but cant be sure...
Both young back together on the nest and adult female feeding them
The larger chick fledged today and spent the remainder of the day on a roof. The runt is starting to exercise its wings but no helicoptering. Mom stayed on nest with the runt and fed it and the adult male appeared to be flying over the fledged chick and trying to get it back to the nest.
Both chicks on the nest today on an extremely hot day. I expect the larger chick to fledge very soon if it hasn't already.
Adult female on nest with both chicks. The runt is catching up in size to the larger chick. no doubt the runt has been well fed since something happened to the middle chick.
There are only 2 chicks remaining in the nest. The runt and a much larger chick. I originally counted 3 chicks with one a true runt. I saw the 3 chicks on just two occasions. Seeing such a large chick and the runt remaining makes me think something happened to the other normal size chick. the nest material looks very one sided in the nest and I am only guessing but I think that the middle chick may have fallen out because I would usually see two similar size chicks make it, not such a disparity in chicks size. Just a hunch. But in general the chicks are well fed and fed equally when I am observing. Not too much human disturbance along the water way and the nest site is closely watched by the local community.
Feeding and shading chicks. The male spends most of his time on the nearby old platform pole or on the nest perch while the female shades. Quiet in the channel today.
I believe there are chicks. The pair was very busy on the nest and not spending any time deep in the nest today. But I did not actually see feeding behavior just what appeared to be one osprey shading toward one side of the nest and the second was up on the perch.
I continue to watch this pair and nothing remarkable to report. They are incubating without much interference. Today one is deep in the beautiful nest and one is perched on the nearby no-wake sign. Chicks shouls arrive within a week or so!
These two are incubating and holding their own with the high numbers of osprey that visit them as they pass over the cove enroute to the ocean. The new nest and platform looks so nice and protective. I am very pleased to see this pair actually have nest material!!!
I observed a bird from this nest fly over to nearby 6298 (Joshua cove) platform and harass them. then it picked up a plastic bag from under the platform and flew across the cove with it billowing out like a parachute only to drop it in the water and was followed by an adult eagle and its fledgling. they decided they didn't need the plastic bag :) Lots of action around Beach Cove and Joshua Cove with the eagle family learning to fish and steal from osprey!
So exciting to watch this pair thrive on their new safer platform. They use the old cut off platform pole to guard and eat as well as the local neighbors bulkheads are great dining and perching spots. The nest is very thick and affords good protection from the high winds.
Pair continues to do well. They are copulating, bringing nest material and fishing. They seem to enjoy the lower guard perch that is actually their old cut off platform.
With permission from Doug Long, State Parks, and Kate Fleming, De F&W, Beach Cove's original and extremely risky high flat nesting platform was replaced with a new and improved slightly lower platform for the 2016 season. The pair accepted the new platform upon their arrival and are finally able to keep the nesting material in place.