So, the most exciting news of the last month is that I've finally found the Osprey nest on the upper Deschutes. This pair had a nest right on the bank 3 years ago, but it fell to the ground during the following winter. I've searched for their new nest for 2 years now with out success. I knew they were still there because I saw them regularly.
I was riding my Arabian mare fixing a geocache that I own on the river when I first spotted an Osprey nest near the cache. I watched for a while but saw no activity. Still, I'll keep an eye on it. Then a mile down the road after letting my mare get a drink, I saw a second nest and this one was active with an Osprey making a lot of noise concerning my proximity.
I must have walked with in 100 feet of that nest 2 dozen times in the last two years searching for it. The new perspective from on top of the horse combined with an awful lot of noise from the Osprey made it impossible to NOT find. Not sure if the horse was bothering her or she just was feeling like making a lot of noise on this particular evening.
I got a couple camera shots of her. I was a second late on both. The first she was flying off and away from the nest. One second earlier and I would have had a great shot. Still, it's a good picture. The second, she's landing on the nest. One second earlier and I would have had her in the air, reaching for the nest. Instead, you see the nest and have to look hard to see her wing still in the air as she is folding it after landing. Ah, the fun of photographing wildlife! Every once in a while your timing is perfect and you do get the perfect shot though. Just not on this day. LOL.
At any rate, she had either just laid or was about to lay eggs. I saw two young Osprey playing on the river not far from the nest. Suspect they were last years young. I also saw one other adult, probably dad. Still not sure about that other nest, will have to continue checking on it.
Well, I'd better get to work. Later.
