osprey fishing

Tag

By Streak!
The male osprey folded tightly.
Twisted as he plunged toward the water.
Determination in every last inch of him.
His chicks and mate needed food and so he fished.

By Jordan Lake Neighborhood 07/02/2017
This morning at the Jordan Lake dam was a rarity.
I often see several species…but today was extremely varied:
 
 I saw a bald eagle fledgling, the largest bird at the lake.
 
A ruby-throated hummingbird stopped by; the smallest bird at the lake.

 
A male osprey caught a fish for his nestlings.
 
 
Some immature little blue herons flew past.
The youngsters are not blue at all, 
but are white with black tipped wings, yellowish legs and dusky bills.
At first glance they look like great egrets!
 
 

By UPDATE on 3 Eagles + 1 Osprey
I have had several delightful questions sent to me about my video.
I thought I would share my answers here with photos from the critical points:
1. The little male osprey caught a very, very large fish.
He has it tucked against his chest as he muscles the fish up.
2. It took several tries for the osprey to lift the fish from the water.
3. The osprey got some altitude and was making the bend toward his nest when he saw the eagle heading for him.
4. Bald eagles make a habit of stealing fish from ospreys … so the osprey tried to up his speed but…
5. Out of the cove to the osprey’s right (regretfully I didn’t get the osprey in the frame)
came a second bald eagle and the osprey dropped his large fish (you can see the splash).
Two eagles are not good odds for an osprey to face.
6. One of the bald eagles made a dash for the fish.
7. The fish was so large that the eagle was having trouble getting out of the water (don’t worry, eagles swim well).
8. While the first bald eagle was trying to get out of the water,
the second bald eagle made an attempt to harass the first eagle into abandoning the fish.
9. Bless his heart, the little osprey tried to get back his fish –
he’s in the upper left of the photo and was easily missed in the video.
The osprey gave up the chase and the fish.
The first eagle finally cleared the water without the fish.
10. Out of the back cove, Hershey dashed in (sorry about the focus) and grabbed the fish. Whew.
11. Hersey makes the mad dash for home.
And, THANK YOU for all your wonderful responses to my efforts with the Jordan Lake Neighborhood series!!

By Jordan Lake Neighborhood, 3/16/2017 7 photos

4 year-old bald eagle watching an osprey across the cove

osprey determined to get his fish to his mate

trio of red-breasted mergansers

lead bird is an immature male, called an eclipse phase

second bird is a mature female and the last bird is a mature male

close-up of the mature male red-breasted merganser

the red-breasted merganser trio taking flight

double-crested cormorant resplendent in its green black body and neck, accented by the bronze of its wings

the small trees and tall bushes edging the lake in many areas are full of the sweet calls of the song sparrows

By JL Eagle Nest Report: First Nest 4 photos, 1 video 02-09-2017
There are 2 chicks in the First Nest!
See the fuzzy light grey head and eye of the chick just to the right of Kate.
walk9136-02-07-17-11-20-47-new-hope-kate-chick
One of the chicks is just to the right of the big limb between it and Kate.
walk9423-02-07-17-12-40-06-new-hope-kate-chick
Kate is holding a big shiny crappie fish.
Look in the area between the fish and Kate’s legs and you can see a chick in the shadows.
walk9557-02-08-17-10-52-47-new-hope-kate-chick
 Way over to the right you see a chick right at the edge of the nest –
I think it is the smallest of the 2 chicks
walk9651-02-08-17-11-43-49-new-hope-kate-chick
Carefully watch directly in front of Kate as she feeds 1 chick.
Then she feeds the second chick which is just past her head to the left.
Both chicks vie for bites of fish.
Video is courtesy of one of the other nest monitors.