Trashy Osprey Neighbors

Posted on March 29, 2013 by foresterartist

The neighbors down the road don’t live in the classy part of town next to the river. The nest they live in is a bit unkempt. Okay, let’s be honest, this place is a trash bin, a pig sty, a garbage dump. I’ve never seen an osprey nest that looks a bad as this one.

osprey, trashy, nest, photography, nature, wildlife

The osprey neighbors down the road

What a mess! I’m thinking hoarders.

Home sweet utility pole in the middle of a vacant lot.

I showed the above pictures to “our” resident osprey in the high-rise tower with the river view. I was curious to get their reaction to the neighbors abode.

The shock of it!

The inter-species humiliation was just too much for him to take, and then……..

Oh my!

……his head EXPLODED!

No osprey were injured in the making of this post.

Red Tail On The Hunt

Posted on March 22, 2013 by foresterartist

redtail hawk, redtail, buteo, rapture, photography, nature, wildlife

This young red-tailed hawk is feeding on a bird it caught.

His prey is more visible in this picture. It was a bird of some type, but I couldn’t identify it.

This young red-tailed hawk has made the mill site his home. He is a hard-working bird as I see him every day at his favorite hunting grounds.

This is his favorite spot. Every day he spends some time on the powerline watching the field in front of our office.

At first he would get annoyed when I stopped to take his picture.

Now he become a great model.

In case you were worried you weren’t going to get your osprey fix today, here is one for you.

Popping By The Pole Yard

Posted on March 20, 2013 by foresterartist

We never know who might just pop by the Pole Yard. While driving through the yard the other day this rooster pheasant was strutting down the road. Unconcerned, he took his sweet time. I stopped, not wanting to run over His Excellency, and took some pictures to record this auspicious occasion. He finally moved out of the road, but seemed somewhat perturbed by the inconvenience.

pheasant, poles, nature, wildlife, photography

His Excellency on parade.

He finally allows us to pass.

Even I have to admit, he is a handsome fellow.

Teka and Blitz were busy plotting against His Excellency!

Osprey Remodel

Posted on March 8, 2013 by foresterartist

osprey, nest, wildlife, birds, nature, photography, birding

The osprey returns to the nest with a stick.

They began rebuilding their nest the day she arrived and the two osprey were back together. This is what they typically do after the winter storms take there toll on the nest. This particular nest is only one year old and must have weathered the winter fairly well. They spiffed it up the first day and that was that. They moved in.

The building materials arrive.

Doing some touch up to the nest.

Off for more sticks.

Just a bit of work and this nest is good to go.

The picture below is how the nest looking in 2011. Usually, they add a new layer to the nest every year. Not so much this year. In 2011 the nest had been built up much more and was on the opposite side of the tower. Normally, the nest gets taller and taller until a severe Winter storm blows the top of it off. I’ve seen the nest over 6 feet tall. Last year the nest survived some very bad storms. Late in the season the nest was gone after a moderate storm. I checked under the nest for debris, but found very little. I found out later that the local power company employees climbed the tower and removed the nest.

This was the nest in 2011.

When they osprey returned and found no nest they immediately started rebuilding. Although, as often happens with men and women they had a bit of a disagreement. They each began building nest on opposite sides of the tower. As typically happens when there is a disagreement, she got her way and the nest ended up in it’s current location.

The is nothing more relaxing then a cozy nest.

Osprey Love

Posted on March 4, 2013 by foresterartist

osprey, pair, nesting, nest, photograpy, nature, birds, wildlife

Last week he was still patiently waiting for his mate.

On Friday our lovelorn male osprey was still waiting alone when I left work.

Late this morning she arrived. She came one week after he arrived.

This morning when I arrived there was only one bird in the nest. When I went back outside about mid-morning and she had arrived. The two of them sat close together for quite some time and every now and then, one would call out. I took some pictures then put my camera away into my truck.

Blitz grazes during a break.

I let the girls out of the truck for a short break. The girls ran to the far side of the parking lot to a field they like, and I walked after them. By the time I had almost reached them, I looked back at the osprey. They were now locked in mating embrace. Immediately, I turned and ran for my camera in the truck, but their interlude only lasted about ten seconds. I didn’t make it. A missed opportunity for sure over a rookie mistake. The male immediately flew away and didn’t return until the afternoon.

He keeps watching her and she keeps looking away. Playing coy.

osprey, nest, tower, photography, nature, wildlife, birding, birds

She is warming up before the big moment.

He is enthralled with her.

She’s a beauty.

Back together again.

Gone Coastal

Posted on March 1, 2013 by foresterartist

The girls and I are on the coast today. This is part of Humboldt Bay.

Osprey Vigil

Posted on March 1, 2013 by foresterartist

Waiting……

In his vigil, he sits on the tower waiting for his mate to return. He looks so lonely. He won’t work on the nest until she returns. Occasionally he leaves and comes back with a fish. Then, he sits and waits. He’s been here for five days waiting.

She is late….

On top of the tower with only an empty nest.

Eagle Week!

Posted on February 28, 2013 by foresterartist

Bald Eagle

I bet you didn’t know it’s Eagle Week. The fact is that I didn’t either. It just turns out that it was for me anyhow. Here is how it came to be. One morning early in the week, I was driving by the boat ramp along the river when I spotted this huge bird. It was a juvenile bald eagle and it was scanning the river for breakfast. I took some pictures and went on my way.

A juvenile Bald Eagle. It is starting to white up on the face and tail.

The next day, while driving through the foothills West of the valley, I came around the corner and lo and behold another huge bird. This time it was a golden eagle. I don’t see the golden eagles nearly as often. So I stopped and took some pictures.

golden eagle, eagle, photography, nature, wildlife

The Golden Eagle

Advance ahead to yesterday, I was up in far Northeastern California. I was passing through the Ash Creek Wildlife Area when I came upon this beauty, a mature bald eagle. I immediately stopped in the middle of the highway, since there is no place to pull off, to take some pictures. Fortunatly, it is a lonely road and I could see for miles in both directions.

Bald Eagle, eagle, photography, nature, wildlife

The Bald Eagle.

Sitting high on the power pole it had a commanding view of its hunting grounds.

Up close and personal, and giving me the stink eye.

This eagle wasn’t here by accident. It was here for the enormous congregation of prey. The wildlife area was absolutely brimming with waterfowl.

waterfowl, geese, duck, photography, nature, wildlife

Waterfowl congregating in huge numbers in the marsh.

It wasn’t until I started to leave that I realized that there was a pair of eagles. The second eagle was sitting on the very next power pole.

bald eagle, eagle, pair, photography, nature, wildlife

Bald Eagle number two. It think this one was a young bird. Note the dark smudge on its face.

So you see, it was Eagle Week. Who knew?

Be Very Careful After Dark

Posted on February 27, 2013 by foresterartist

You want to know what happens at my house after dark. Check out Mary’s post, The Backdoor Artist, and you will see!

Sneaking Bliss

Early in the night, just after dark, a raccoon visited the turkey vulture nest tree. It climbed up the backside and over the top. Paused a moment at the cavity opening, then was on its way. I worried when I first saw the intruder, a nest raider for sure. I wondered if the vulture eggs would be safe down inside the tree cavity? Will this night bandit be back?
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Turkey Vulture Rendezvous
Spying on the Vulture Nest
Vulture Turf Wars
They’re Back
Wings of Autumn

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Here Come The Osprey!

Posted on February 25, 2013 by foresterartist

The almond orchards are blooming in the valley and the buttercups started blooming yesterday in our yard. Today, the long anticipated harbinger of Spring arrived when the first osprey was in the nest at the electrical tower by the mill. We are still watching for its mate to show. Spring is unofficially here!

osprey, nest, nature, wildlife, photography

The first osprey has returned to the nest.

This one looks a little cranky.

I wasn’t planning another post today, but I’ve been waiting for the ospreys. https://theforesterartist.com/2013/02/15/the-birds-of-spring/ Welcome back!