tune in

It's a regular symphony orchestra out there.

When the day begins they begin

Actually it happens all the day long...

You just have to be out there to enjoy it.

Name change?

And there she goes again...

Nellie may have been a better choice for her name.

April is so pretty but Nellie tells her story.

As in Nervous Nellie.

I may change it ...

She continues to fly off the nest at the least disturbance. It's not even because of me, 

In fact most of the time I have no idea why she bolts and I'm not sure Artie knows either!

He often looks over to the nest from the neighboring tree and keeps an eagle eye on her. 

Wait... did I say eagle eye, I mean osprey eye on her.

He will take charge if he needs to.

She always comes back in a short amount of time, much to my relief.

And settles deeply on her eggs.

I wonder if she'll continue this once they hatch.

I hope not as she is turning ME into a Nervous Nellie.

April

April is a bit skittish.

When she feels threatened in anyway she takes off.

It could be someone walking on the beach, or the garbage truck, or me.

She just gets up and leaves the nest.

So today she does not like the fact I'm in the garden with my camera.

In fact she is giving me the LOOK!

Sunny skies overhead so I allowed myself 2 minutes to photograph her flying.

She flies over the nest but won't land.

This behavior happens when she is stressed and sometimes when she just needs a break.

I've watched her fly off and go to the nearby tree and pee and then return. I think that only happens when Artie is a bit late in showing up.

My 2 minutes were up so I left the garden and she immediately went back to the nest.

I don't think she likes me....

By the way Artie never leaves the nest when I'm around.

Go figure...

filling up

The waters were calm and the day was ending.

Time for a kayak ride so I can blend with nature in a quiet way.

The sun was so low in the sky that it barely warmed me but it sent the waters on fire.

I felt like I was breathing in the colors.

Over night it percolated and this morning I'm filled with creative energy.

Snow-what?

It was May 9th, 2020 and it snowed.

April is in shock along with the rest of us.

The winds howled and it's cold and wet in the nest and she is hungry. 

She knows he will come.

And minutes after the squall is over he arrives with a fish, notice the snow is still on her back feathers.

She is relieved that Artie is such a good fisherman and so devoted to her.

Artie hands over the fish to April who gladly receives it.

She flies off with her dinner to enjoy in the nearby tree. 

Notice the head of the fish is gone, he always eats that first and brings the rest to her in the nest.

Artie snuggled down and kept the eggs as warm as possible.

Aren't they amazing...

the comedy before the storm

The weather forecast calls for freezing temperatures, and high winds. 

Artie instinctively knows this and has delivered a very big and very cumbersome branch.

He is going to keep his family warm.

He almost knocked April off the nest during his rearranging and distribution of this present.

This is too much for her to watch, she left.

His branch is now all set and he works on some smaller pieces.

There, all done!

I give him an A+ for effort, love this guy.

wandering

It's springtime in my garden.

When the skies are blue I wander,

with my camera

and lose myself

in the glories of spring.

A sing along

Look carefully, April is not the only one in this photograph.

The mockingbird, king singer of them all, lover of the tunes, is the main event in our neighborhood. He rules to say the least. A bit bossy, constantly singing and if I were to make an educated guest he will figure out how to create a nest inside of April's front yard.

As I sat listening to his performance another softer and sweeter sound emerged from the garden.

There was the song sparrow calling to his mate.

And over the wall below the garden, hidden within the shrubs, was the singing gray catbird.

 She was singing along with the rest of the choir.

Not a quiet bird among us.

changing of the guard

 

It's very early in the morning and the sun has just risen above the horizon. 

Artie has been sitting on the eggs and April is flying in on the right, to give him a break. 

Notice the decision has been made to call him Artie. I love his name..

April and Artie share the neighborhood osprey news.

Yes the eggs are fine

The change over is going smoothly

and Artie is ready to leave and go fishing for breakfast.

April settles back down

and sits the rest of the day.

high flier

Wouldn't we all like to have a mom as powerful and beautiful 

as April?

a bit of drama

April was very upset, her mate was in the sky above her circling with another intruding male.

 He was trying to intervene on her behalf.

But the neighboring male osprey over ruled and came in hot on the nest.

April was overwhelmed

by his abrupt and not very neighborly advances.

She lost her balance and was forced off her nest.

Thankfully he stayed only seconds and promptly left.

And April was able to fly back in right away,

and resume sitting on her eggs.

All is well with the world....