osprey with a fishPandion haliaetus with a fish
This was a fun find. An osprey has a fish in a tree (sounds like it should be a Dr. Seuss book, but it doesn't rhyme). I'm by no means a birder by any stretch of the imagination, partly because all my pictures of birds are from so far away that it's often difficult to get an ID. And, you know, I rarely ever carry binoculars on hikes with me. I wasn't sure what this was when we viewed it from all sides of the trail. On our way out of the park we described what we saw to the ranger in the toll booth. He gave us a printed Point Lobos observation checklist and noted we wouldn't find the osprey on the list. He said, "We think it lives in the Carmel Lagoon, but it likes to come over here for lunch." The way he said it made us laugh.
ps 10/26/11 - For a much better osprey blog post, check out Ecobirder.
ps 10/26/11 - For a much better osprey blog post, check out Ecobirder.
6 comments:
Not an inhabitant, just a dining visitor? It seems that where a bird goes to eat everyday counts for a lot, ...I would say that it is part of his territory or domain or range or environs.
Nice photos, thank you.
Ospreys have such a small head and pipsqueak call for a raptor, they make me smile. I used to watch them sit on a pine tree and shred mullets from my study desk at college.
Special birds, always a joy to encounter. If I see one a year, I am so happy. Glad they're doing well in your neck of the w... ater.
Jeannette, ospreys haven't ever been found nesting here in Monterey Co., so I can see why it wasn't included in the checklist. It's a little early to see one here as they're considered winter visitors.
Cindy, I like your description. We waited quite a while to see it eat its fish, but nothing doing.
Graeme, I was surprised to find out ospreys are found around the world. I was very pleased to see this one.
That is interesting... no nests in Monterey County..that's what comes for being a northerner. Inverness- Point Reyes has osprey nests. I'll have to keep my eye out for these passer by osprey then.
Jeannette, I retrieved the information from Don Roberson's Monterey Birds book and confirmed as being updated on his website (http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/MTYbirdlist03.html). Who knows, you live close enough to Point Lobos, so you might see an osprey soon.
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