Tag Archives: Osprey

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Eric Zetterholm photographed one of the first returning Ospreys a few weeks ago. Ospreys usually return from their overwintering sites around the first day of Spring - this year some were early. Eric found this Osprey with its catch, a tasty fish.

I am fortunate to be able to watch an Osprey nest through a scope. The pair has used this nest for well over ten years. The male returns first, followed soon thereafter by his mate. She immediately gets to work on reinforcing the nest. Some winters the nest is destroyed by winter storms, but it looked in good shape when the Ospreys returned this year. They are now mating and she will soon be sitting on eggs. Her mate will fish for both of them.

Ospreys have a high-pitched, whistling call that you can listen to at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Osprey/sounds

The Mendonoma Coast has everything the Ospreys need to thrive: tall trees for their nests and lots of fish in rivers and the Pacific Ocean. Welcome back, Ospreys!

Thanks to Eric for allowing me to share his photo with you here.

It's sunny today, with high clouds drifting through, and quite a bit of wind. No need to worry about brushing your hair today!

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Gaily Jackson was at Gualala Point Regional Park when she saw this Osprey looking for a meal in the Gualala River. She caught the moment when the Osprey spotted a fish.

Ospreys plunge into the water with their talons first in. Here Gaily has photographed the Osprey catching a fish.

Then the successful fisher takes flight with its meal, a Steelhead.

Ospreys are also called Sea Hawks.

Thanks to Gaily for allowing me to share  her photos with you here. To see much more of her nature photography, here is Gaily's website: http://gailyimages.com/

We are having a beautiful day here today, a memorable day for Memorial Day!

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Ospreys arrive on the Mendonoma Coast around the first day of spring. This year they arrived early and they quickly got to work on their nests. Rick Denniston noticed this Osprey perched on a snag, and he also photographed Western Gulls below on the sandbar and in the Gualala River.

Ospreys make nests of sticks at the top of tall trees. Females are sitting on nests now, and perhaps there are chicks inside. Until the chicks' heads can be seen above the edge of the nests, we just don't know for sure what's going on!

I have some dramatic photos of an Osprey fishing taken by Gaily Jackson, which I will be sharing here soon.

Thanks to Rick for allowing me to share his photos with  you here.

We are having a beautiful day here today, sunny, warm and a slight breeze. Lots of visitors are arriving for the Memorial Day long weekend.

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Ospreys migrated back up the coast a little early this year, and the females are sitting on eggs while the males hunt for fist. The Osprey that Neil Silverman recently photographed looks quite determined.

I love the whistling sounds of Ospreys - they often call while they are soaring through the sky. You can hear for yourself at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Osprey/sounds#

Thanks to Neil for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Neil's photography and workshops, here is the link to his website: https://silvermansphotography.com/

Windy today...very windy! Don't bother with a special hairdo as the wind will have its way!

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Allen Vinson photographed an Osprey with its catch of the day, a fish! The Osprey looks very intent, don't  you agree?

Steve Woolson photographed an Osprey flying near Salal Creek on another sunny day. You can tell it was windy by the white caps on the ocean.

Ospreys usually stay on the Mendonoma Coast until the first of autumn. Then they leave, migrating far to our south. One or two have been known to stay here and overwinter, rather than migrate. We'll have to see if that happens this year.

Thanks to Allen and Steve for allowing me to share their photos with  you here.

Foggy coast-side, sunny when you move a bit inland, and quite mild. No smoke smell, but the sunlight has a red tinge to it, so some smoke particles are here.