Osprey Saga. A Young Osprey Learns to Build a Nest

The young ospreys are already on the wing. They venture far from the nest, but they always return home.

This young Osprey surprised me by bringing nesting material back to the nest.  Nest-building is an ancient instinct—he watched his father at work and followed right in his footsteps.

 

A young osprey is about to land on the nest while his sibling calls out nearby. They've become so vocal lately.

Mission accomplished: nesting material delivered. I'm sure this young osprey is incredibly proud of his hard work.

Generally, life is good.

Osprey Saga. A Look at Growing Ospreys

 

Growing by leaps and bounds, the young Ospreys frequently exercise their large, strong wings. 

They can’t fly yet—though their father will soon teach them to fly and hunt—but they can lift off for a few seconds to move around the nest.

After a high leap, a young osprey joined its siblings, spreading its mighty wings to show itself off to the world in all its glory.

Generally, life is good.

Osprey Saga - I. A Male Osprey Brings Nesting Material

Four years after the final pages of the previous Osprey Saga drew to a close in 2022, the next generation’s story opens with the male Osprey delivers fresh nesting material to his waiting family.

***

I watched the male Osprey for a while as he kept an eye on his babies. Then he was gone, only to surprise me fifteen minutes later by flying back to the nest with what he thought would be a valuable addition.  His choice of material was quite unique.

Unfortunately, that plastic rope he carried can be tangled hazard for his chicks.  I hope so much that they will be safe.

Flight requires a continuous cycle of raising and lowering the wings. What you are seeing here is the downstroke (or the push phase) of his flight cycle.

Wings spread and talons full, an osprey approaches its massive nest with a fresh find to secure it.

"Honey, I'm home... and I brought back some new decor!" 

A male Osprey delivers his find to his mate as he prepares to land on their nest.

Generally, life is good.

 

Huntsville Residents - I.

Two weeks ago while I was in Huntsville, a stranger told me that there are raptors in the area. I had seen an Osprey fishing in Pineview Reservoir, but I didn't have any idea what other raptors I might find there.

Then, a week ago, I met a Swainson's Hawk—and it was a handsome male! The hawk wasn't intimidated by my presence at all, allowing me to spend almost half an hour with him. The stranger was right. There are definitely raptors around Pineview Reservoir!

Generally, life is good!

The Hunter

 

Spotted this morning at Pineview Reservoir! 

During nesting season, male ospreys do almost all the fishing for their families. They'll eat the fish head for a quick energy boost, then deliver the rest to the nest, where the female protects the chicks and handles the feeding.

This osprey circled over one spot, looking carefully down, but unfortunately didn't catch anything.

Power of Wings. American Bald Eagle Takes Off

 

After a long stretch of basking in the sun, the Bald Eagle lifts off from his "hammock".  

The day ahead would be spent searching for food, but by evening the eagle would return to his favorite place to rest and observe the world before night falls.

Generally, life is good.

His Majesty is Sunbathing

 

We’re having a "winter" in Northern Utah that’s basically just Spring in a trench coat. I think the Bald Eagles are confused or just disappointed in our lack of commitment to the season. 

This Bald Eagle has clearly embraced our warm winter, he settled onto a hammock of dry branches with the ultimate "I’m not mad, just disappointed". 

Same hummock, same sun, but now we’ve made eye contact. 

Generally, life is good.

His Majesty American Bald Eagle Has Arrived at Bear River MBR

It has become a small December ritual of mine: welcoming the American Bald Eagles back to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, and checking in on the one who, over the years, has become my eagle.

Two days ago, there he was again, perched on the same pole which is noticeably shorter now—each year it seems to surrender a little more to time—but it still remains his chosen throne. 

Generally, life is good.

His Majesty American Bald Eagle Has Arrived at Bear River MBR

 

Every year I celebrate the arrival of American Bald Eagles to Bear River MBR, especially the eagle that has become my favorite over the years.

This year, this Bald Eagle surprised me by arriving at Bear River MBR in mid-November, a little early. 

The Bald eagle "owns"a perch on the Bear River, where he rests and watches  the world go by.  The eagle's perch has become shorter over the years but it's still in the same place and belongs to His Majesty.

Generally, life is good.

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk

This morning I encountered a very difficult situation with a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk. The Hawk was perching in the tree but I didn't notice him at first and drove past it. Looking back, I suddenly saw the Hawk.

Returning back in reverse is usually not a good decision, because birds see returning cars as a threat and always fly away. Luckily, this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk remained in the tree. For this I am immensely grateful to him.

Red-tailed Hawk in juvenile plumage has a dark head, lightly marked chest, darker bellyband.

Generally, life is good.

Adult Male Northern Harrier

Three long years have passed since my first encounter with male Northern Harrier on Antelope Island.  This morning heading to the island I met my second male Northern Harrier. 

The predator ended up not far from the road and perched on a metal pole with a wire. The sight of such poles always makes me nervous because birds accidentally get tangled in the wire and get injured.

Due to their distinctive plumage color, male Northern Harriers are sometimes called "Grey Ghosts" among birders.

Generally, life is good.

His Majesty at Bear River MBR - III. Finale

 

In these series of photographs I focused primarily on the American Bald Eagle's wings which are build to soar and glide.  Bald Eagle can fly 225 miles in a single day.  

At some point, the eagle covered himself with his wings like a cloak and made an irresistible impression on me.

Eagles rotate their heads in different directions while their body is motionless.  They do it because the eagle's eye doesn't move much in the eye socket, rotating its head helps a lot to look around.

Generally, life is good.

American Kestrel

 

I came across this Kestrel last week while driving along the Causeway to Antelope Island and wondered if it was the old banded Kestrel I had often seen but when I got closer, the raptor didn't have a band.  I wonder where the old Kestrel is now and if I'll ever see him again?

By the way, male American Kestrels are the most beautiful of all predators!

Generally, life is good.

His Majesty at Bear River MBR - II

Having been with this Bald Eagle for a long time I began to predict his behavior and waited for the most interesting moments, such as when he briefly looked down with his wings raised in search of prey.

Preening was very important and was done frequently. The Eagle rotated his head in different directions which allowed the raptor easily reach most of the feathers on his chest, wings and back. 

From time to time he looked at me sternly as if to say how long are you going to be here.  At these moments I tried to photograph the Eagle's face as best as possible.

Generally, life is good.

His Majesty at the Bear River MBR - I.

Today I spent almost two hours with a Bald Eagle which likely the same Eagle that I have been photographing for the past few years.  

The raprtor was preening, stretching his wings, moving around a little and, of course, resting and observing the world.   

In the photo above Bald Eagle is trying to move to a more comfortable position.

Finally got comfortable.

An amazingly proud and beautiful predator.  I can admire him endlessly, if, of course, he allows me.

Generally, life is good.

Adult Gray Morph Eastern Screech-Owl

When I saw an owl leaning out of the bird's house, I couldn't believe my eyes, but as I came closer, I realized that I was not mistaken. 

At first, I thought I had met a Great Horned Owl but later I learned that an Eastern Screech-Owl was looking at me curiously from the round opening of the bird's house.  

Eastern Screech-Owls readily accept nest boxes and also use birdbaths and will visit them to drink and bathe.

 

Dozing with a half-closed eye, fluffy and so charming. 

Suzzane Labbe thank you very much for helping me to identify the owl!

Generally, life is good.

Female Northern Harrier in Flight

 

Seeing a female Northern Harrier is already a rare luck, even if it is fleeting. 

I noticed a Female Northern Harrier on the side of the road and it seemed that she was trying to deal with her prey. I think it was a mouse.

Unfortunately, I was able to take only one single shot when the raptor took off, but for some reason without prey. Strange, I was one hundred percent sure that the bird would carry it away in its claws.

Generally, life is good!

Learning to Be Independent

The moment I spotted the juvenile Great Horned Owl, I thought there was no way I could take a photo of him.  The Owl was hidden by dense tree branches and almost was invisible.  I stayed with him for a while, talked briefly and left.

On the way back, the Owl was still in the same tree but he changed his position and no longer napped.   This juvenile Owl flew out of the nest into the world learning how to be independent.

At some point,  the parents of this young Great Horned Owl, let the fledgling know that it was time for him to hunt on his own.  

Life goes on.