Tag Archives: Osprey

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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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Ospreys fish in the ocean and in rivers for fish. Their other name is Sea Hawks. Yep, the Seattle Seahawks are named after an Osprey...I presume! Ron Bolander was out with his camera and he was ready when this Osprey flew by with its catch.

If you know what kind of fish this is, I'd love to know. So would Ron. See how the Osprey has positioned the fish? It's the best aerodynamic position for the big bird to fly with the fish.

This is a good time to see and hear Ospreys on the Mendonoma Coast. The chicks have fledged and they are beginning to fish for themselves. To hear the distinctive call of an Osprey, here is a link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Osprey/sounds

Thanks to Ron for allowing me to share his photo with you here. And get well soon, Ron!

The heat has left the immediate coast and the fog has returned. We also have some high clouds drifting through, making it a little humid today. Temps in the low 70's. Yay!

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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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Perhaps this Osprey just wanted to get a drink of water. Perry Hoffman was there to get this great photo.

Thanks to Perry for allowing me to share his photo with you here. To see much more of Perry's photography and art, here is his website: https://magentaraven.com/

The fog has retreated and the winds have picked up. It's a breezy warm day on the Mendonoma Coast today!

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Eric Zetterholm photographed an Osprey framed by the moon, a spectacular photo worthy of being on greeting cards. Eric wrote, “We were down at Shell Beach and saw an Osprey hunting the shallow waters during a low tide. With a light wind, the Osprey was able to hover above the cove with the waning moon, and then dive down after its prey."

Isn't this lovely? Ospreys have such distinctive, whistling calls - I was hearing their calls earlier today. You can listen for yourself at this link to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Osprey/sounds

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

Cool fog blanketed the Mendonoma Coast early Saturday morning. It pulled back to leave us with a beautiful day, low 70's with no wind. Lots of visitors are here this weekend!