This week has been warm. Spring-like. Birds are courting and building nests. Wild flowers are blooming in the salt marsh. And spring-breakers are everywhere.
The Osprey Family is not taking a spring break. Sandy and Stanley continue to incubate in shifts. Mama Sandy’s shifts seem to be little longer, and she always takes a bath whenever she gets some time off. Then dries herself in the sun, sits on the egg(s) again and asks Papa to go fishing.
They seem to have established a regular routine to be interrupted only by Papa Stanley’s guard duty when a potential intruder approaches the nest.
I’m happy to report that the Great Blue Heron has not repeated his attack on the nest. He’s still keeping an admirably low profile at the opposite end of the marsh.
But Steve, the young Osprey, has been around again. Several times. The other day he flew very close to the nest. Papa Stanley’s loud warnings scared even a Mottled Duck who was swimming close by. She literally ran on water 🙂
But Steve didn’t give up. He kept circling around the nest. And finally Stanley had no choice but to chase him away in person.
Papa Stanley still enjoys his man cave, but spends more time in the nest now. And lets feathery spring-breakers rent his perch from time to time.
A Red-bellied Woodpecker has been working on his little apartment in the same old palm trunk for a few days now, and today he finally moved in. He appeared to be very pleased with his new home.
I’m sure Stanley will be a good neighbor. And a good dad. Maybe already next week if my estimates are about right.
And he definitely is a good hubby. Today, directly after the shift change at noon, he flew away. I’m guessing to take a bath. But he came back shortly and flew over the nest just to check on Mama before going to fetch some fish for lunch.
All is good. The salt marsh gang wishes you all a wonderful weekend. ❤ Tiny
TINY LESSONS BLOG 
Very busy indeed! I loved each photo of this series ❤ Have a great weekend!
Thanks so much Takami! I’m hoping for “baby watch” late next week or early the following week 🙂
Exciting times!! 😀
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
GOOD TITLE !!!!!!! 😀
Thanks for the share, Jonathan 😀
Ah, so nice to have all that so close to you tiny! I think Spring is early in my neck of Alberta! It got up to 20c today! The trees have buds on them and I notice the birds are busy. It’s so nice to go out without winter snow and ice and enjoy a spot of sun with Sam. He enjoys chasing the birds. 😉
I’m so happy for your spring weather! After a harsh winter spring brings the nature to life – and that’s a wonderful time. I bet Sam loves to chase the birds…Bumble did too when his sight was still good, but such are dogs 😀 Have a great weekend, my friend, with walks outside!
Thanks for the update!
Nancy
You’re welcome Nancy! I’m hoping the next update will have baby news, but could take a bit longer.
All excellent pictures, and I like those of the woodpecker especially.
Thanks Hien! The woodpecker has been so busy this week and today just stuck his head out a few times 🙂
All sounding good there, Tiny. it’s always nice to get an update from you. Papa Stanley is doing a grand job. His kids will be proud of him. 🙂 Love the cute pic of the Woodpecker in his home, and that duck is too funny for words. 😀
I expect to see the woodpecker more often now that he has his condo in the palm trunk all fixed up 🙂 And the duck was truly funny, she just ran on the water the whole way from the shore to a small islet!
Steve is very naughty. Obviously having trouble finding a mate of his own! The woodpecker and the duck are cute.
That’s what I also think…but Stanley is clearly on the top of everything. The woodpecker seems satisfied with his little home so I hope I’ll see him more now. And I’ve never before seen a duck run on water that fast and that long!
Great shots. Love the parakeets’ and woodpecker’s colorful plumes.
They are very colorful! I love to see the parakeets visiting…and the woodpecker will probably stay for a while 🙂
Such stunning shots!
Happy you enjoyed them Kathy!
The first I’ve seen of the woodpecker and parakeets.
Is it typical for ospreys to harass others’ nests? It seems so. But to what end? The eggs? The babies? C
It’s not typical at all, but I think this is a young osprey (2-3 y.o.) who is just curious, single…and stubborn. While he often flies around the nest, he has never made an attempt (that I know of) to attack the nest itself, but nesting ospreys are very particular about the immediate space around their nest. It’s like a “no fly zone”, so they warn the other osprey and if the warning is not heeded, they chase them away. That’s what happens with “Steve” repeatedly.
You really do capture the every day drama of the salt marsh! Love mr woodpecker settling in to his apartment 🙂
Thanks Val! They are so fun to watch 🙂
It does make me wonder if they get as much fun from watching us! …
I’m sure they do 😀
you are so beautifully “lost” in nature and i’m so excited to be hearing the baby-news, soon…
I’m excited too…and hope to be able to capture the baby from my terrace. Any time now…It’ll not be a good picture, but the baby/babies will not look out of the nest until they are a few weeks old 🙂
yes, just let us be patient for a little while…
😀 lots of patience…
You’re going to have a lovely family soon Tiny! What an event to witness! 🙂
I’m hoping everything goes well – we’ll see soon 🙂
What fabulous photos!
Thanks Susan, I have such fabulous models!
Tiny, your pictures are unbelievable!!! The one of the mottled duck made my mouth fly open in awe. You got a shot I wouldn’t even begin to know how to do! Just wowow! What a beautiful post, so full of Hope and New Birth. Just LOVED this, my friend. Your photos just keep getting better and better. I am totally in awe of what you are doing!!! Love, Amy
Thank you, dear Amy, for your kind encouragement! The little duck did a long run on water and I was lucky to capture it towards the end. I’m trying to improve little by little, particularly to get better in anticipating their next move 🙂 I’m so happy you liked it, my friend! Love, Tiny
I love your bird shots! 🙂 What camera and lens are you using, they are wonderful
Thanks, happy you like them. For my bird shots I usually use my “jogging camera” which is a lightweight, cheap bridge camera with a great zoom, Canon HS50. I can walk, jog and run with it, and got it just for that purpose because I never carried our heavy Canon, lenses and tripods. When I go out, I want to move …the zoom was challenging to get used to but now I love it.