OBNWR

The warmth of Spring is finally settling in. I've shed the jackets and now my bird walks attire is thin long sleeves and long pants to keep sunburns and bugs away. The blooming trees are. The ospreys are actively building and occupying nests. The eagles are clearly guarding nests, with eaglets probably there by now.

This osprey flew by me at full speed and snapped a branch off of a tree, apparently never intending to actually land when it grabbed the branch.

Osprey With Stick for Nest

Here's an osprey that built a nest with its mate on top of a duck blind. It's a short distance from the shore and easy to view. That's the Occoquan marina in the background.

Osprey Leaves Nest

Unfortunately there wasn't much action at either eagle nest, no hunting. At the shoreline nest, one eagle perched on a dead tree limb and occasionally chased crows away. I had trouble getting clear shots through the trees so there are no in-flight chase shots.

Bald Eagle Hangs on in Wind

Launch

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle on Perch

The warmer weather and sunny skies are definitely bringing people out too. It seems there's always a group out now, cleaning trash that washes up on shore, birding, banding, or just out for a walk in the park. I know when I see an army of people carrying spotting scopes on tripods that they will flush the birds deeper into the woods and it's time for me to go.