This report from the salt marsh actually covers only the first half of the week, up until Wednesday. But don’t you worry, there’s been a full week’s worth of excitement. As you read this I’ll be traveling. And hoping a little osprey chick would have arrived by the time I’ll be back next week 🙂
That brings me back to my calculations of the “due date”. I have now gone through my pictures from February. And I can say, with a high degree of certainty, that Sandy was incubating on February 21st. She may have laid the first egg on February 20-21. If that is correct, we would expect a hatchling anytime from this weekend to Monday-Tuesday next week.
Last weekend I took a walk at sunset time. It was a beautiful evening. The salt marsh was quiet, most birds had already gone to their sleeping quarters. The only one still feeding in the shallow waters was a Roseate Spoonbill clad in hot pink breeding colors.
Mama Sandy had eaten her dinner and was sitting on the eggs. She raised her head to say hi. I didn’t see Papa Stanley. So I went looking for him. And found him in his man cave finishing dinner.
It was getting dark, and I had started my walk home, when I heard a faint humming sound. I looked up and saw a manmade bird, a drone, flying above the park. It was small, but I managed to get a photo when it turned and was lit up by the sunset’s afterglow.
From a distance I heard Sandy sound a short alarm. I’m sure Stanley flew right away over to the nest to protect her and the egg(s) from this unfamiliar danger. I’m assuming this was their first time to see such a strange “bird” fly in the skies over the marsh. It certainly was for me. And I can’t say I liked it. I definitely prefer birds made by nature. Like these little fellows.
The beginning of the week was peaceful. Lots of birds in the marsh. Many of them pairing up and working on their nests.
As to Sandy and Stanley, they have spent the week doing what matters most. Family stuff. Protecting the nest, incubating, bathing, preening, exercising, inspecting the egg(s) and feeding. The other day I happened to witness a food transport. Papa Stanley was returning from a fishing trip over the ocean. Delivering a nice fresh fish to Mama Sandy.
They quickly changed shifts. Stanley sat on the eggs and Sandy took the fish and flew off to the lamp-post close by to enjoy it.
She then returned to the nest and did her pilates balancing on the edge. Stretching her arms and legs in turn. Followed by light flying exercises around the marsh.
I wish them…and you all a wonderful weekend! I’ll catch up on your blogs next week as soon as I return.
Reporting from the salt marsh on Wednesday, Tiny
TINY LESSONS BLOG 
I always smile when I read your posts, this one no exception. Great photos as usual.
Thank you Hien! I’m happy my feathered friends make you smile 🙂
Oh the photos are just wonderful and I love the one of the osprey peering down at you from the nest! Had to send you this video about drones and hawks. If one flew over The Holler, the hawks would turn t to toast!
That’s how I feel about drones in my air space! Had one hovering round my house the other day. I didn’t like that at all.
Thanks Cindy! Wow – the video is amazing! I’m sure the same would happen to a drone over Holler. This one flew very high, but had it come in lower and closer to the nest, I think Papa Osprey would have gotten it down too, he certainly has the skills 🙂
Wonderful pictures as usual. That drone is not going to last long if Papa gets it. 🙂
Thanks Jackie! Oh, if they dare to take this drone here again…they might just find it in the shallow waters of the marsh 🙂
Ha! Serve it right! 🙂
It would get what it deserves 😀 I bet it was from a Real Estate Mogul…
Might be! I never thought about that. hm…..
Beautiful sunset photo. Stunning pink colours on the Spoonbill. Love the flash of red (and yellow) on the Blackbird, I didn’t even know there was such a variety – the things I’m learning from your blog! 🙂
Thank you! The Spoonbills are always colorful, but at courting time they become hot pink, like this one. I’ll try to get a picture of the Red-winged blackbird in flight so you can see the beautiful red patches on her wings 🙂
Great captures, Tiny! These birds are so awesome. 🙂
Thanks Amy! They are quite an awesome bunch 🙂
You should consider a part time career as an osprey doula. 🙂
I could consider that, part-time consultant and part-time doula. But there’s a slight problem. I’m not certified. And there’s no training available 🙂
I have no doubt you would quickly become a self-taught expert!
I think you know very well self-taught experts can be quite dangerous 😉
Thanks for your report, Tiny. It seems that all is going to plan. Fantastic photos again. Enjoy your time away. Look forward to news of the hatching soon. 😃
Thanks Sylvia. I’m hoping to see or hear a hatchling tomorrow when I get to go to the marsh again or see one little head when I look with binoculars from my terrace…it’s time 😀
Love Mama’s pilates. 🙂
Me too! She’s very good at stretching between her incubating shifts 🙂
for every step you take
with every move you make
i wish you the safest of journey…
Thank you Sirpa. Just got back. It’s always good to get back home…
“no one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” – lin yutang
So true 🙂
Impressive photography as always Tiny, great story
Happy you enjoy my little nature stories Eddie.
There may be babies when you return. Safe travels, Tiny.
Thanks Nancy. I hope to hear or see a tiny osprey chick tomorrow!
Oh how exciting if the Osprey chick was hatched over the weekend! Fabulous photos as always! And I’m with you about the drones – they’re very disturbing.
I hope I’ll not see any more drones over the salt marsh…but I hope to see or hear an osprey chick tomorrow!
How wonderful to have all these birds so close and in a beautiful location. Your photos are very beautiful Tiny. Thank you for the nice post. 🙂
Thanks H.J.! I appreciate this “neighborhood” and all our feathered neighbors every single day. Nature is so beautiful 🙂
Very beautiful!
Thanks much, Vlad.
Great captures and lovely story for my saturday afternoon. Thank you … and see you again soon. 🙂
Happy you enjoyed, Val. Hope you had a great weekend and a good beginning of this Easter week 🙂
Lovely–too bad the drone popped its nosy face in.
The drone really looked like it didn’t belong here…I bet it was from a Real Estate Agency. But happy they can’t build anything in the protected park…
So that’s how mama got back into pre-egg shape!
What beautiful coloring on the spoonbill (well, all the birds really)!
That’s right! She’s really good at pilates…and other exercises too! The Spoonbill was wearing its courting costume, which is the hottest pink in its wardrobe 🙂
Wonderful. Love the spoonbill
Thanks David. The spoonbill was definitely more charming than the drone.
The baby Grebe has my heart today! So cute!
The tiny (not more than 6-7 inches) Grebe won my heart too. S/he was probably out in the big world for the first time without parents because I didn’t see them around that day.
And before you know it she will be laying eggs and having a clutch all her own! My how fast they grow! Nice to hear from you Tiny. Have a wonderful evening.
Thanks Koko for your beautiful comment. And have a great evening you too!
You captured some great moments with the “neighbors” in the salt marsh! Looking forward to the new arrival, too. 😉
Thanks Cyndi! I’m hoping to hear or see a tiny chick tomorrow 🙂
Great capture of the dinner delivery! What a wonderful diversity of the wild world you captured in this post!
Happy you enjoyed these little fellows, Kat!
Amazing pictures! I especially liked the one of the Roseate Spoonbill. It is a beautiful bird.
Thanks Sheryl! The Spoonbill has its brightest colors right now, but it’s always beautiful pink/white.
awesome photos…and storytelling, as usual…
Sorry for my late comment 😦
I loved your photos and story behind them as always! ❤
What a life you live 🙂 While the opening shot is something so regal that I cannot stop looking at it ~ the number of amazingly photogenic birds you have in this place astounds me… We have the black-faced spoonbill out here in Hong Kong, which is a stunning bird (one of my favorites), so also partial to your spoonbill too. Cheers to a great weekend!
Beautiful, as always.
Thank you Elena!