Front and centre.

Osprey male

Cowichan Bay nest #1

An experience pair I could tell by their nest building skills and success rate in rearing their young, normally 3 to a brude all 3 would fledge.

Preparing to mate.

If she is interested she will lean forward and spread her tail feathers, if he does not see her prepare he will discontinue any attemp until she shows signs of interest.

At the nest.

Osprey hunting.

An early moring encounter with this beautiful Raptor.

Early morning nest building.

The earliest I have seen an Osprey in the Cowichan Valley was March 29th often they don't starting arriving until mid-April.

Osprey with a Flounder

On the fly.

Fast food ...it is captured at high speed, it is transported quickly so the Osprey actually gets to eat it before a Bald Eagle swoops in to steal it. Did you know prior to mating the Osprey will not feed each other, only when the eggs are laid do they start sharing meals. Osprey ediquette is the one that catches the fish gets the head only then the remainder goes to the nest to feed the mate or chicks. The best part is the head so quite the deal they have worked out.

Time to back away.

This is a big crop however the tide does move my boat around making it difficult at times to stay a comforatble distance.

At the nest.

One of 7 nesting pairs in Cowichan Bay in 2017 taken May 23.

Shaking it off.

After a high speed dive into the water the Osprey will take flight climb about 25-30 feet then shake off the excess water. During the shake they lose aero dynamics which causes a loss in altitude.

Osprey

One of the nicest raptors it doesn't eat other birds, doesn't steal from others, and mates for life. This is a male with a flounder he will help himself to the head (full of nutrients) then take the remainer to the nest.

Osprey, female

We were walking the beach when I saw her perched it made my day.

Osprey, female cropped

I wanted to show her off in a cropped version :)