Tag Archives: Osprey with fish

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Ospreys are also busy catching fish for their offspring. Ron Bolander wrote, “I went to Walk On Beach [on Sea Ranch] to see if there were any shorebirds.  Aside from a few gulls, I saw this osprey actively searching and diving. His dives were interesting as, a few times,  he would pull up only a few feet from the surf. Twice, he dove into the water, but, missed his catch. Then, success!"

"He caught a beautiful striped surfperch. As the osprey flew away with its meal, the sun brought out the beautiful colors of the fish.”

Ospreys dive talons first into the water, attempting to snatch a fish. When successful, they maneuver the fish head first to give them an aerodynamic position.

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photos with you here. To see much more of Ron's excellent photography, here is the link to his flickr account: https://www.flickr.com/photos/27154511@N04/

Drippy fog this morning has given way to blue skies. It's breezy this afternoon too.

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I love watching Ospreys fish, with their talons ready to grab one.  But in this case an ocean wave tossed this fish onto the sand and all the Osprey had to do was pick it up!

Ron wrote, "When the wave receded this fish must have offered itself to the Osprey. This was photographed on the bluff opposite Gualala Point Island."

Gualala Point Island is off the north end of The Sea Ranch. You can view it by the public access trail that begins at the southwest corner of Gualala Point Regional Park. There are lots of nesting seabirds on the island!

Thanks to Ron for a great photo and for allowing me to share it with you here.

Big fog bank over the ocean, and foggy in places. Sunny by mid-morning in Anchor Bay, temps in the mid 70's. Bonus sighting - two adult Gray Whales were seen yesterday in the approximate area the Blue Whale was seen the day before.

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Ron Bolander was at the Gualala River when he saw an Osprey carrying its catch of a fish. Then a Bald Eagle swooped in.

Despite the eagle's efforts, the Osprey kept its dinner. Go fish for yourself, Bald Eagle!

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

There is a high fog today, with mild temps.

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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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Ospreys returned to the Mendonoma Coast several weeks ago. They got busy rebuilding their stick nests. Ospreys mostly eat fish, and it's a treat to see them dive for a fish feet-first. Steve Bennett photographed a successful Osprey.

Notice how the Osprey carries the fish. They always fly with the head of the fish positioned to the front. It's more aerodynamic that way.

I love the calls of Osprey. I've been hearing them every day since they returned. To hear their whistling calls, here is the link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Osprey/sounds

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

Cool weather has returned. We had fog today. It burned back around 2 pm here in Anchor Bay.