Osprey Nest

Osprey live on fish and generally nest close to lakes and estuaries, typically high up on a palm tree, park light pole or telephone pole.  These two were nesting on a telephone pole at Lake Murray.

 Osprey hopping up to move position in the nest.

Osprey pair in the nest.  Still no sign of chicks/fledglings.

Santee Lakes

Had a wonderful stroll along Santee Lakes in Santee, California.  These man-made lakes are fed with reclaimed water and are just teaming with bird life!

Belted Kingfisher

Crow chasing a red-shouldered hawk.

Double-crested cormorant 

Grace's Warbler, Western Form 

 Nuttall's Woodpecker

 Osprey

 Phainopepla

 Red-Shouldered Hawk

 Red-Winged Blackbird

 Ruddy Duck getting out of Dodge!

Wood Duck, likely a beneficiary of one of the many wood-duck nesting boxes that have been added to the trees in the park.

Osprey, No Not the Bird, the Tilt Rotor!

Osprey flying outside of Point Loma. I've wanted to take a picture of one of these ever since I saw them in Halo (good job military PR). Really cool if a bit expensive... For those of you not familiar with tilt rotors, these little beauties take off like a helicopter and then tilt the rotors down into a lateral alignment to fly like an airplane, allowing them to land and take off in tight spots but extends their range and flight speed.

Handsome Mug

Osprey, Mission River. Now is that a handsome mug or what? Just hamming for the camera while he/she? waits for the next fish to swim by (Ospreys eat fish...).

Wouldn't A Pet Osprey Be Nice?

Osprey with Flounder, Mission River Preserve. I was looking for my favorite Osprey at the Mission River Preserve. He normally hangs out near the overpass, sometimes on a stick in the middle of the river. I was walking back, wondering if he (she?) had left us when, what should I see flapping by with a flounder in tow, but our favorite Osprey. I have to admit, besides being pleased to see him, that I was most impressed that a bird that size can carry a fish that big up into the air. There's some serious strength in those wings! Or...it's a major bummer to be a fish in shallow water, even a decent sized fish! Wow.