 |
| |
|
| |
Observations & Images
5 April 2006
32nd day of incubating
|
| A hot day under a burning Sun had both the female Osprey and I panting in the heat. |
 |
 |
A new behavior is evident in both of the Ospreys. Neither one now wishes to give up incubating the eggs. The incubating bird has to be forcibly ejected by the other wishing to take over the job. The male Osprey, standing at right, waited for the female to move but when she did not he pushed her off the eggs. Is this a sign the eggs are preparing to hatch? Given how many days they have been incubating it should be any day now. |
| Pushed off the nest, the female flew into the pines where she stayed for approximately 45 minutes before winging her way out and around the area. |
 |
 |
Unlike the male Osprey who never draws near, the female Osprey and I share a quasi-relationship in which, occasionally, if I am alone and all is quiet she will fly very close to me as she passes overhead. Sometimes she will even do a slight hover for a longer look. If I could read her mind it probably would come out something like, "Who is this nut out here watching us everyday?" |
| After passing overhead she headed back to the pines where she uses bad judgment selecting her next perch. Her aim point is the highest branch that forks into a "V". |
 |
 |
She makes the landing but it is obviously a balancing act. |
| After just a few seconds the branch snaps and she falls having to use her wings to save the situation. |
 |
 |
Back in the nest, like yesterday, she starts up a long monologue directed at the male who refuses to give up his spot just as the female had done earlier when the male arrived. Eventually she gets fed up and has to push him out to take his place. |
THE NEIGHBORS
|
| It is always a happy sight to see the Otter family approaching. |
 |
 |
The Otters did not stay long today but, rather, left after a momentary visit. |
| The juvenile Little Blue Heron is still a casual visitor. Here the bird strikes at something in the water. Several small fish were observed caught in this manner throughout the afternoon. |
 |
 |
The Little Blue Heron high steps through the water. If the guide books are correct, this juvenile should start acquiring the dark blue feathers of an adult sometime during its first spring and early summer. |
| The ever present Belted Kingfishers are usually heard more than they are seen. It is rare that one flies around the area without keeping up a constant loud chattering, like the one pictured from this afternoon. |
 |
 |
Sometime since the last visit some insensitive person threw a can into the water near the nest. Interestingly, the Otters all gave it a wide berth when they came upon it. |
| |
|
|