Over the past week, we have observed Osprey rebuilding and repairing nests. All nine nests near our home are hosting pairs and it should not be long until egg laying begins.
Map shows Osprey nest sites in our area. (Yellow = nest sites. Green = our home.) Map is interactive.
The following photos were taken at the nest site on Bath Road approximately 2 miles west of Bath.
Osprey in nest - Bath, Maine | Click for larger view
Osprey in flight - Bath, Maine | Click for larger view
Tomorrow’s post will feature Snowy Egrets that I photographed today who were feeding near Small Point, Maine.
Happy birding!
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Hi John,
Excellent news that you got 9 nests around, we will be able to see some nice pictures of them on your blog I guess. Time to time, one individual travels to Iceland but it is in fact quite rare!
John Briggs Reply:
April 19th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Thanks for stopping by Chris!
More and more Osprey have been coming to the cove off our yard. I have a place set up in the reeds to photograph from. Hoping to get some diving shots and the bird with fish.
Great shots John. I really like the shot of one in flight!
John Briggs Reply:
April 19th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Thanks Kim!
I just love the photo of the Osprey….your blog is amazing….I have added you to my link….I am an amateur birder and just thriving on all the wonderful birders like yourself that are out here in the blog world….I am hoping that I will be able to draw on some of your expertise to enhance my knowlege of birding….cheers!
Thank you SmalltownRN!
I wish you well with your new blog. I will link to you likewise. If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask!
Awesome. You’ll have so much fun watching them!
I love how you have that map detailing all the nest locations! My husband loves the Osprey and I shared this post w/ him. both photos were excellent! I loved seeing underneath it’s wings in the 2nd shot.
Beautiful John! I too have some shots of Osprey to post, just not quite as close up as yours. Did you digiscope them? Can’t believe there are 9 nests in your area! As far as I know there is only 1 or 2 in our area. Incredibly large birds. Hearing their wings flap is a wonderful sound.
John Briggs Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Thanks Sharon!
No digiscope, i have a 400mm lense on my camera.
John…Wow…all those nests…two blogs, a job, a yard full of birdies..where do you find the time.
Great photos…and I have said before..I really like how it shows up larger when I click on them.
Those are some awesome shots of the Osprey. That’s terrific you have a map like that to show the area you can find the Osprey. Everything is such a secret around here. I’m not sure why some Erie birders are like that. I think the best way to get people interested in wildlife is to let them see how magnificent they are in their natural habitat.
Awesome Osprey captures John! One of my favorite raptors. They are so regal and their talons are incredible! I love the way they dive for the fish, then turn the fish around in flight, so they are head first making them more aerodynamic for flying. I can’t wait to see your fishing shots!
What magnificent shots of such magnificent birds! I can’t wait to see the babies!
I love Ospreys. I saw my first one in Panama around Thanksgiving, when I lived there for a year. It took me a month to find a birdbook to identify it. The osprey use to sit at the top of an old tree limb that was above the foliage of the rest of the tree, smack in the middle of the golf course. It would eat its catch and I could watch this through binoculars. Since this time I have loved watching them, especially when they are fishing. Their strength is amazing. Thanks for the photos and for sharing this.
Great shots, I’ve been looking at the osprey webcam at the Taste of Maine restaurant.
John Briggs Reply:
April 21st, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Thanks John!
The Osprey failed to nest at the Taste of Maine last year. We were at the restaurant Friday evening and watched the pair partake of a fish.
Thanks for the comments everyone, they are greatly appreciated!
Amazing shots! And no digiscope? Wow.
*I Donate To Cornell Ornithology!*
http://berrienbirder.blogspot.com/2009/04/spring-day.html
Amazing shots! And no digiscope? Wow.
*I Donate To Cornell Ornithology!*
http://www.opticsplanet.net/cornell-lab-of-ornithology.html
Just wanted to talk to someone about the gorgeous and interesting osprey. I erected a nesting platform at the end of my dock and have the perfect chance to view and photograph the pair that is currently nesting. This is their second year at my home. Last year I don’t think they had chicks. I’m sure they have eggs now because one or the other of them is constantly on the nest. He brings her food. She leaves the nest every now and then seemingly just to stretch her wings. How does she stay there through high winds and heavy rains and early Spring chills? Why do they swoop down, drag their feet across the top of the water, fly up, down again and do this three or four times? I read they do it to cool their underside to bring the coolness back to the nest, but its not hot. I’ve seen him bring her food, she takes it and flies out over the water and drops it, as if its not what she wanted for dinner. Funny. Last night a third osprey came and Papa Osprey just sat perched on a nearby flagpole but Mama tweeted and chirped and scolded him something awful. I just love watching them. Any suggestions how I can rig up a webcam to watch them? I have nearby flagpoles and trees. Thanks for you reply.
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