this way and that

Mom and dad are on the nest, dad on the right, mom with her little tucked under her to keep him cool on this very hot day. Dad spots a seagull flying too close to his nest.

So he heads out to give him a strong warning to move along.

He dive bombs the seagull, swooping and diving after him. 

This turned out NOT to be a good idea. The seagull turned on him and the chase began.

They squawked and reversed directions and soared through the blue sky.

Dad soon became over powered by three seagulls who banded together to drive the osprey away. As we watched from our boat seven seagulls arrived and the chaos ensued.  Osprey dad didn't have a chance.... he finally retreated into the trees and the seagull group cried out their soaring crackling glee at winning this game. After looking very closely at my images I realized that juvenile seagulls were part of the group. Apparently that family banded together to protect their own nesting area. Can't wait to go see dad again, I worry about him extending so much energy on this hot day. He has so much work to do feeding his young family and protecting them as well. What a good dad....

on my way

It was a beautiful calm evening on the bay so I decided to go kayaking. 

On my way I passed a mother robin about to feed her littles.

Discovered the resident black crowned night heron hiding in the tree, hoping I'd continue on my way, which I did....

Became mesmerized by the floating feathers on the surface of the water.

All happened on my way to see the osprey nest across the bay.......

Life on the Bay

Meet the newest family on the bay. There are two littles in this nest and I'm guessing they are about a week old, maybe not even. Mom is calm and my presence in the kayak doesn't seem to really bother her. I'm quiet and far away, remember I have a big lens.

I love the baby's long neck. So gangly and sweet.

Meet the other family around the point from our house. This one is much older than the other little in the other nest across the bay. See the difference in the neck, this one is fuller and has more developed feathers. Not sure about the sex but believe it's a male. 

Now comes the exciting part, getting these littles ready for their 2500 mile migration to South America that they will have to do in a few short months.

Our nest will remain empty but perhaps the littles will discover it and use it to feed on a fish when they fledge. I can hope anyway. I'm so happy there is life on the Bay, I'll keep you posted. 

my website

The rain has been relentless and I have been very busy updating my website. This is a screenshot of what my portfolio page now looks like. Click on phyllisweekesphotography.Com/portfolio and view it for yourself. This may very well fill up your rainy day schedule....

Happy father's day

Our Osprey nest remains empty but there is lots of activity around the bay.

 I took out my kayak this morning to visit the nest just across the bay. I brought my biggest lens with me and left Tully home. She was visibly upset with me but she would not have been welcomed by the Ospreys. While I floated at a safe distance so as not to disturb them I watched as dad circled and delivered nesting material. The babies have hatched but are so little I haven't seen them yet. Mom does leans into the middle of the nest and fusses, I'm imaging with the littles.

Just before I made these images dad had driven off a resident great egret who was hanging out on the nearby dock. He swooped and practically forced him into the water. Lots of squeaking and excitement. 

No one seemed upset with my presence, maybe they just know that it is the crazy osprey lady from across the bay. 

I left while mom was busy rearranging dad's sticks. I hope the next time I kayak over there I'll see the littles peering over the edge of the nest.

a fly by

You know of course I have lots of images of the osprey before they left the nest. This one is high on my list of favorites. Our resident mockingbird, who by the way has a nest below the osprey nest, used  to attempt to move out the Osprey! I hear a great deal more singing lately, someone likes the fact that they are gone, hmmm I wonder who....

more flowers...

peony

verbena

peony

a flower journey

Baptisia from my garden taken into the studio. 

end of the day

Evening swan afloat.

An opening

Spending more time in the garden now that the sun has finally come out!

part of life

They lost the eggs. I believe that they were flooded, but I don't know for sure. 

My heart is as heavy as the nest must have been, saturated to overflowing with sadness.

What would have happened; 

IF I had created drainage in the platform instead of just using a plywood base

IF it hadn't rained for days on end with no sun to dry the nest out

IF the temperatures hadn't been so cold

IF our young couple had been a bit more experienced.

But the ifs aren't going to bring back the eggs from this family.

But my hopes for them are strong, I know they are learning how to live, 

Like the rest of us, making mistakes along the way and living with the choices we've made. 

For now the nest remains empty.

The parents are in the area, flying in the trees, and landing on Brad's boat. 

And on heartbreaking occasions landing on the edge of the nest for a few moments.

in my dreams

I have been dreaming of making this beautiful springtime image again this year.

 But no, it's not meant to be.

 If I were to attempt this now I would have steel grey behind these soggy blossoms. 

let it shine

Like this female osprey, I too want to feel the warmth of the sun to dry off the dampness that has permeated this spring.

I too want to head into the goldenness of a new day,

and land happily in my own nest.

lilacs

Hard to spend time in the garden when it's mostly raining or dreary everyday.

But it felt good to take in the lilac smells on this overcast and misty day.

anticipation

Dad is on the right, and mom is on the left. They are both fussing in the nest.

The wind is picking up so mom is having a bad hair day.

Dad hasn't even noticed as he is too busy preparing the nest for the eggs

 that I think should be coming soon. They have both been spending much more time on the nest than ever before. Mom sat for hours and then dad flew in and took over. Just when I thought there might be eggs they both proved me wrong by leaving the nest alone for way too long a time.