A blogger asked over the weekend about the head markings and how to identify the females. The first picture is Bella from last year along with the intruder from this year. The intruder's head pattern has a distinct "Y" on it while Bella's markings do not.
22 comments:
Wow, I see some fresh nesting material in the nest!!!!! Looks like frest moss!!!! Keep it up B & B. We want to see some babies this season. Late starts are ok considering the intruder.
Monday 3/8/10 2:29pm
:) Mary Pat
Adamstown, MD
Thanks for the close-ups today.
Come on Beeeeees!
Beth/Ohio
Has anyone spotted the Osprey today? All I've seen today were the grackels.
Also wondering if there are anymore cams around like this.Love checking in on the wildlife.
Thanks,
Mary
Benecio was on the nest a few times this morning and later for a brief moment the intruder. The nest was vacant for the afternoon.
Thanks for the reply :). I've had fun watching this. When do they usually settle down on the nest? Is there a certain month that they lay their eggs?
I have been watching a pair of eagles in Virginia..that has been very cool. I was a backyard birder for many years. I guess it never leaves the system. I am enjoying all the different birds SC has compared to Michigan.
The last few years since we've had a web cam for the nest, the osprey have usually laid eggs by now, but the intruder has disrupted this trend.
If eggs are laid, the female will stay on the nest while the male brings her food. She will occassionally leave and stretch her wings, with the male incubating the eggs. If there are no eggs the osprey may stay close by, but not always on the nest.
We're hoping our couple, Bella and Benecio, will be able to get into a routine before it's too late.
I think the intruder is Olivia. I went through some of the old pics and there was one from June 2008 that showed that distinctive Y. 060908-915a . I think it was Olivia that was on the nest that year, is that right?
Sue
Hey Sue,
I'll have to check. We don't have many photos of Olivia showing her back head markings.
The two on the nest now look like they are trying hard to get that hole repaired. They look like Bella and Beneico. Couldn't see a Y marking. I get the impression that they know when whoever is working the camera is trying to get some closeups!
Vivian
Hey Vivian'
Trying to get close-ups of the head markings. Seems Benecio is a popular guy.
Hey Mary...We have a lot of webcams
(birds and critters!)on
Birds Cams Around the World...
http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/index.php
Olivia (?) wouldn't that be
something!
Beth/Ohio
Hey Anonymous, I registered at Bird Cams Around the World but all I see are posts. How do I get to a webcam?
Carol
They are both on the nest and mating at 6:20 A.M.
Sue
Hey Beth. Mary Anne sent me better instructions so I'm all set for now. The website uses different terminologies than I'm used to, for example Board Index is the same as HOME.
Carol
So glad to see B and B back safe and sound (behind the times, as I've been away). Intruders seem to be prevalent this season (Cape Coral, FL for another). Hope the issue is now resolved!
MaryG
Cape Ann, MA
hello everyone.. since we arent having much action today on our nest.. the eagle in VA just had her first baby chick.. fun to watch.. here is the link..http://www.wvec.com/marketplace/microsite-content/eagle-cam.html
Enjoy
Katt
Gosh, I walk away from my computer for a little while and when I come back there is a very large piece of bark (or something) right in the middle of the nest. Wish I had seen that being deposited.
Vivian
Good morning Vivian,
Benecio brought in bark from a Palmetto tree a little before 8am. Most of the sticks and moss he has brought in are just off screen of the camera's usual position.
The intruder was buzzing about the nest as well as agitating Benecio. He kept low and spread his wings often to dissuade the interloper from landing on the nest.
I did see Ben deposit the palmetto bark this morning ... also saw the 2nd osprey - assumed it was Bella. Was it in fact the intruder?
We leave HHI tomorrow AM so will be keeping tabs on the happenings from home.
D of Canada
Both females were on the nest this morning with Benecio. We've noticed that when the intruder is on the nest with Benecio, he remains in a hunched over position. The two females have similar markings and can be difficult to tell who is who if they don't stand still. Unfortunately none of the osprey are banded which would benefit us all in making them out.
Have a safe trip back to Canada and thanks for participating with our camera and blog!!!
Hi again MG. My neighbors and I have now spotted 3 osprey flying around our lagoons. We simply can't find a nest being built anywhere around. Would they build one in a large tree? Where in large trees would we look? I would think near the highest part of the tree.
Hey Carol,
Osprey like to have an open area surrounding their nests, so if they did build in a tree it would most likely be at the top.
I've noticed that the osprey nest on the Cross Island Parkway's sign for Gum Tree Road is unoccupied. This has been a strange year so far for osprey's around Hilton Head.
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