time for sex

She has been waiting for him to arrive.

He is almost there.

Sideways landing but hey who's perfect.

Now they've got it!

Entire sequence 4 seconds.

I kid you not, my camera settings prove it.

In awe

She is bringing in soft nesting material to line their growing nest.

 He is there to receive it and because he is the prime stick bringer he seems quite blown away by his beautiful feathered female.

wash of red

I can't deny that the Ospreys have become an obsession.

But how can I ever forget the beautiful songbirds that visit my garden everyday.

This male cardinal was flying about with his female companion always nearby. He fed her a sunflower seed on the garden wall but my camera was focused on you know who. Hard to know where to be to capture the activities of this fabulous month. Couples are everywhere!

Introductions

We arranged to have an osprey platform built on the top of this tree 2 years ago. 

We had no luck and I almost decided to remove it.

It is right off of our side porch and quite an eyesore.

But when we returned back to Oyster Bay look who we found!

This young couple have built a brand new nest out of twigs and seaweed.

This is mom.

And this is dad flying in.

I just wanted to introduce all of you to them. 

Hopefully the next few months will be full of wonderful stories.

having a flap

WHAAAT! YOU'RE LEAVING US!!!

Why do you want to leave us to go back up north! 

We've heard you have a new osprey nest up there next to your house. We don't think their babies are as cute as us tricolored herons. Mom says we are the most beautiful babies of all. Look at our expressive head of potential feathers. And of course see our wing colors and our yellow legs? We are rock stars, and we can't believe you're leaving us.....just don't understand.

transitions

So much more to see if you wait in the dark for the sun to find the waves and reflect in the shallows of the froth along the edge.

not this time

Our little green heron family was not successful. My heart sank when I returned to their nesting site and found nothing, the eggs were gone, the nest was gone. Yet I found one of the parents looking over the preserve from the railing that held me back from being with them. I wish I could make things right for them or do I really mean I wish I could make things right for me. 

I continued walking through the preserve and found the life that was thriving there.

My heart began to open up again.

I could feel hopeful and even laugh at the littles.

I could be happy for all the others.

a dialog

I'm working on images for a book that is swirling through my mind. 

I came upon this captive red tailed hawk photograph.

It stopped me cold as his soul reached out to me.

Does he speak to you as well?

duck talk

Stay centered, it makes you feel better.

in the hood

Where'd she go! 

I've flapped my wings, fluffed my feathers, called out in my sweetest voice.

 She was here a minute ago.

WHERE'D SHE GO!?!?

I thought I just saw her fly away.

No, she's over there!

Shhhh I'm hiding over here, taking a break. He's relentless!