Up Close Osprey

Osprey Whisperer

I managed to get back to the osprey nest a couple more times since the original "hot chick" postings. I've got several more shots I need to work up, but thought I'd share a few that were worked up. Got pretty close on some of these. :huh

I originally thought there were two chicks, but after the last visits, I've discovered there are actually 3 chicks. :clap I had done some research on the osprey breeding/rearing for the chicks and it seems that 3 eggs is typical. Unfortunately it seems it is common place for the last born chick (the smallest) to eventually get bullied by the other two dominant chicks and starve to death. This is pretty sad. I do see signs of this...as the mother fet the two dominant chicks and the third chick lay motionless on the outside of the nest and did not appear to eat. I did not have the chance to stick around for the complete feeding so I don't know if the 3rd chick ever did get the scraps. They often don't get to eat because there is nothing left after the first two chicks ....pig out.

I did get to see the mother leave the nest...fly over to the next bay and land a good sized fish for breakfast. I have not seen the male in weeks and fear it's demise. The males do most of the fishing ,but it's not unusual for the female to leave the nest for short periods to stretch her wings and gather food (fish). I don't think the male is still around. I use to see him fishing in the other surrounding bays.

Anyway...I've got plenty of shots to PP, but don't have much time lately. Busy working on some other shots for another opportunity.

Mom and chics:

































Thanks for looking. More to follow when I get the time to work them up. Some "feeding shots" too.

Cheers

Dick on Aruba

Great pics of a great animal Mike. Well done.

Dick.

Rohirrim

Great set Mike, gotta love the sharpness you can get when you can get up close.

Too bad you have to get closer than I do :uhoh :uhoh :lol4

Harryb

Excellent close-ups Mike.

ginger_55

Good Shots, Mike!

ginger

sthig

those are unbelievable shots! I really like them!

what lens did you use?

kudos,

Thusie

Great shots all but love the first one

SuperJared

The green on the underside of the wings, is that a reflection from the sea?

Osprey Whisperer

Thanks Dick & Steve. Appreciate you taking a look and commenting.

Steve....at least I can GET CLOSE to the birds without scarying them off. I also don't need to wear coats, hat and gloves when I shoot my birds. Besides...who needs a big ole lens when one can just drive their boat right next to the bird's nest to take their picture.

Osprey Whisperer

Thanks Harry. It was an adventure trying to get close to the nest. Trying to fight the wind, tide, other boaters and shoot at the same time...pffff. Did I mention the mom buzzed me? Guess maybe I got too close. Won't be doing that again ..anytime soon. O.K...probably try again in a few days. The chicks are getting ready to attempt that "first flight". Would love to capture that.

Cheers

Osprey Whisperer

Thank you very much, Ginger & Scott.

I used the Canon 200mm f/2.8 "L" with their 1.4x TC.

I was able to get pretty darn close to the nest. It is located on a main water way (intra-coaastal waterway) The nest sits atop a "Slow speed..minimum wake/manatee zone, sign". I can literally drive right up to it in my boat. (I didn't). I tried to keep a safe distance (about where the main boat traffic passes daily).

I did drift a bit closer than planned. The Mom did get a bit noisy and annoyed with me. I quickly snapped a shot and moved the boat away from the nest. I didn't want to stress her and the chicks out. I think she's pretty use to the boat traffic.

This nest and the pair of osprey have been here for the last 6 years. It's good fishing ..no doubt. These birds see dozens and dozens of boats pass next to the nest daily. I had to get really close before the mom let me know I was not welcome.

Osprey Whisperer

Thanks for looking Thusie & Jared. I think the green is your eyes. :uhoh ...ok. maybe I messed up in post. I was going to say it was the reflection from the Lock Ness monster...but didn't think you'd believe that.

Mike and I took a boat trip out to the nest this afternoon. Happy to report the chicks are looking good and GROWING FAST!! The other adult (dad) was NOT spotted again. We did see ALL three chicks being fed by "Mom". I was originally concerned the 3rd (non dominant) chick would be bullied and starve to death. Actually got to see them eat today. Yipppeee The dominant first two chicks ate first and then when they were stuffed....SIESTA time. Then the Mom fed the 3rd chick. I think these chicks will be flying soon. Here are a couple quick fixes from today.

Thanks again.

Osprey Whisperer

Great news. OSPREY DAD SPOTTED!!!!

I was worried the male osprey had met his demise. I had not seen him (nor had any of my buddies) for almost a month. I use to always see him. Despite visiting the nest frequently and at all hours of the morning and day, I never saw the male. This didn't look good. Well yesterday morning, bright and early (7:00 am) I saw him fly in with a huge fish and drop it off. He then flew off across the intracoastal waterway and landed in a tree. He hung out here for hours ....as I followed and waited for him to fly off. He was much more patient than I was.

I returned to the banks of the intracoastal water way that evening ....where the tree was and just my luck...I saw the male lfy in to drop fish off at the nest. I shot it...but I was pretty far away and only had my trusty 200mm with 1.4x TC. He then flew to the tree...but followed the far shoreline to get there. Not helping me out any. He must have known I was shooting him again.

Anyway...all is well in osprey land it seems. The chicks (all 3) are looking good and growing like crazy. They are stretching their wings and flapping. I figure it will be any day and they'll be flying. Hope to get some pics of this first day flight event.

I'll work up some of the "Dad" and some more recent shots and post soon.

Thanks for following. Hope you all are not getting sick of the osprey picks or updates. This is pretty cool I think. It's not every day you have an osprey nest so close ..and with chicks. Wooot