Observations & Images
16 June 2006
North Nest/South Nest
North Nest
South Nest
THE NEIGHBORS
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Observations & Images
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North Nest |
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| Both the male and female north nest Ospreys were seen though most of today's visit was spent with the south nest birds. The north nest Ospreys perched in the trees close to one another or soared around the area. As evening approached, they were observed going up into the tree where they normally spend the night. | |
South Nest |
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Dark rain clouds moved inexorably toward the south nest as the day wore on creating constantly shifting lighting conditions. The female south nest Osprey spent most of the visit perched on a dead pine snag. Here she makes one of her brief visits to the nest. |
| The nestling, at left, came up out of the nest with the arrival of its mother. | |
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The female did not stay in the nest long but soared off around the area before returning to the snag. |
| Unlike previous visits, the nestling was very visible and vocal today. While the young bird did not consistently attempt to flap its wings they were constantly being unfolded. | |
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The nestling looks around as it calls out. The female remained perched nearby watching the nest but did not respond. |
| Here the nestling looks like a miniature version of the adults. Just after this picture was taken it began to rain forcing the camera equipment to be put away. While sitting through the rainstorm the bird was observed flapping its wings and, in a surprise move, it jumped up into the air as it flapped possibly thinking it would take off like its parents but, instead, the nestling came right back down again atop the nest. | |
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After the rain passed the male Osprey arrived carrying a fish which he deposited in the nest. |
| The male leaves the nest and the fish behind. Interestingly, the female Osprey ignored the male and the fish he brought to the nest as she continued sitting on the perch. | |
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The second surprise of the day was the nestling began feeding on the fish on its own. |
| The movements of the nestling during feeding were an exact copy of what one would expect from watching an adult feed. The nestling had no trouble tearing the fish apart as it ate. | |
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The female Osprey sat on the snag overlooking the nest with a look of proud satisfaction as she watched the nestling eat. She was also very wary of the surroundings and would often let out warning cries at the approach of any perceived danger. |
THE NEIGHBORS |
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| A group of Pileated Woodpeckers move through the area. At least one juvenile and one adult were seen while the cries of a third were heard nearby. Alice Rowe believes she spotted a fourth. Most likely this is the Pileated Woodpecker family that recently fledged from the dead palm tree around 4 June. This female Pileated was observed gouging out those deep holes in the tree limb. Large pieces of wood would fly off with each powerful blow from her bill. | |
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The Pileated hitched all around the limbs before ultimately disappearing. |