sometimes the colors, the air, the water, the bird all coalesce into a magical unexpected moment: osprey in aqua
Jordan Lake
Categoryeagle family report: Ice’s glare
I am glad I am not at the end of Ice’s glaring stare.
He has spread his wings to dissipate heat.
Note how much white there is on the underside of his wings.
Usually I see this kind of pattern on two year olds, not fledglings – and I call it the Navaho blanket look.
Compare it to yesterday’s photo with Ice with his back to you and Wynd from the underside.
eagle family report: Wynd and Ice
Ice had been hanging out on the roost beside the nest
occasionally giving a “weep-weep” call hoping for fish.
Suddenly Wynd came busting past the nest – screeching.
Wynd had seen a parent coming with fish.
Not to be left out of a meal, Ice jumped into the air and they both disappeared.
Been a long time since I caught them both in the same frame.
nest builder
I was sitting up on the hill, waiting for an eagle or osprey to perhaps go past.
There was a quick flicker of motion in a tree across the way.
I started watching the activities of a pair of blue-grey gnatcatchers as they built their nest.
In 3 days the nest has gone from a shallow bowl 1 inch high to the cup you see in the photo below.
This tiny bird is only slightly larger than a hummingbird.
It uses lichens, pieces of leaves, bark and spider webs for construction materials.
twister
Ospreys frequently go completely under water when diving after fish.
This leaves the bird with a lot of very heavy water as excess weight on its body.
They solve the weight problem by shedding the water.
Like a dog, they start at the beak and do a full body, very vigorous, twisting shake back to the tail.
I caught this osprey at the point of the shake reaching his midsection; his beak almost back to its normal position.
eagle family report: Ice
Mom Kate is plainly telling Ice that he better mind his eagle manners when he gets into the nest.
Her scowl and body posture are easy to see.
I think both parents are tired of hearing Ice screaming for food – you can hear him all over the cove.
I don’t know that he has made any effort to fish.
He made quick work of the fish Kate had just brought into the nest.
And then Ice proceeded to fly to where Kate was perched and landed on the same limb and began his begging all over again.
Kate left in a hurry.
doc ellen's journey 