Yesterday, Eric Nordvold and Cece Case saw an Osprey flying over Cooks Beach in Gualala. We wondered if he could be the first returning Osprey. The vast majority of Ospreys that nest here migrate far to our south in the fall. A lone Osprey, though, was spotted during The Sea Ranch's bird count in January. But this morning I looked through my spotting scope and there he was!!! Perched on the nest that Rick and I have been watching for years, an active Osprey nest here in Anchor Bay. The males return first and the females will follow soon. They usually arrive around the first day of Spring, but like seemingly everything else, they are apparently early this year. Here is a photo taken by Chris Pechal last year.

It's always exciting to spot the first returning Ospreys. With all that's troubling in our world, knowing that the Ospreys have returned to the Mendonoma Coast brings comfort.

Thanks to Chris for allowing me to share her photo with you here.

Bright sunshine this afternoon, and temps in the low sixties. The ferocious wind has died down, thank goodness.