Due to weather complications, I posted a day earlier.
Hay seed suggested I plan a visit to Wildcat after he and his wife saw some Osprey during their walk last weekend. Because he and I had not seen any of the “Sea Hawks” since last summer, I was compelled to heed his advice.
When I arrived Monday morning, I did not expect the over whelming number of raptors I saw. I’ll fill you in on the details after the page break.
The Sun had just burned off the thin fog covering the lake as I arrived. I had been hearing the screeches of Osprey long before I dodged mud puddles on the gravel path leading to primitive boat landing. The first aerie I encountered had a pair of adults fulfilling the Call of Nature.
Osprey mating with hopes of chicks.
From that point (near point #5 in the image below) I took photos of other aeries. Here is a satellite image of Wildcat Brake and the location of some of the nests I saw.
I have numbered the nests that have a corresponding photo.
Looking West
Nest 1
nest 2
looking North
nest 3, Photo-bombed by a Forster’s Tern
nest 4
nest 5, mating pair from the photo above
nest 6
Last month, I took a photo of a Canada Goose pair occupying nest 6. The arrival of the Osprey eliminated any claims by the geese over the nest site.
I decided to sit and film several hours on a nest that was not being disrupted by arriving Crappie fishermen. The Osprey pair (I’ll call them Fred and Wilma) were very cooperative during my video collection. I recorded every activity they used to establish a new home and family.
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I’ll begin the video segment of this journey with both birds collecting and delivering material for the nest.
53 second video
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I sat for a few hours while the couple worked. Other things caught my attention and I’ll show you some of those.
wood duck couple
Obviously, Spring Fever had distracted the typically skittish ducks so that they didn’t flee as soon as they saw me. While performing their own mating rituals, I was able to get the best photo of a drake I’d ever taken. My thanks to him.
A flock of “peepers” (unknown shore birds) flew across and I got this photo (hoping they’d land). They didn’t descend, but I discovered they were Dunlin (after consulting my Sibley Guide). I relied on the dark head and beak, small dark tip on the tail, under wing markings, body size and shape and the call as they flew over to provide my id.
Dunlin
A brief moment of discontent happened across the lake. The distance was too far for good filming but from the photo I did get, a juvenile Bald Eagle was having a dispute with an Osprey. The dynamic flight (with angry voices emitted) quickly moved beyond my view.
immature Bald Eagle chasing an Osprey
Raised voices and new movement came from Fred and Wilma’s nest and I resumed my filming of them. In the span of an hour, I was able to capture them mating.
I observed a behavior by Wilma that I hadn’t seen in other females. She was cleaning her beak on a limb before procreating. I figure it was a hint for Fred to “get busy”.
1:31 minute video
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Shortly after mating, Fred went fishing for breakfast. He delivered a fine meal to Wilma. She dined while Fred continued his collection of nest material. Wilma left the nest to evacuate her system. She extracted a pellet from her craw, a common practice for carnivorous birds.
51 second video
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That is all the exciting news I have on the Osprey’s return to Mississippi for now.
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The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
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My Bug of the Day is a lovely Spring arrival common to the Southern United States from Texas to the Atlantic Coast. There are several species of Orange Tip Butterflies and this is an early arrival.
Falcata Orangetip Butterfly — Anthocharis midea
The male shown above is feeding to gain energy before he hunts a mate. Wooded areas, prairies and flat lands (close to but not usually on the water’s edge) are the territory where these little butterflies are found. The females will lay a single egg on each plant she encounters. After the larva emerges, it will feed at night and hide along side leaves during the day.
I hope you will share any exciting Spring sightings.
