LOOKING FORWARD TO 2016 BRINGING US A FULL NEST AT LOCH GARTEN WITH EJ AND ODIN AT THE HELM.
I am not sure of the validity of results of Big Garden Watch.
Last year on the weekend of the watch it was dark all day and torrential rain in my garden and hardly saw a bird to record. They were all bunkered down in the evergreen trees on the river below my garden.
A few days later in bright sunshine the birds emptied the feeders.
So I suppose it all depends on the type of day you get.
Three eggs at Fort Myers Beach and still awaiting first at Dunedin.
Probably get down to this one as staying in Sarasota during the osprey season a bit further north than usual but only 90 minutes away to Sanibel and Captiva and Naples area. last time I visited Pink Shell was in May and the nest was empty having fledged but they have perches nearby and an osprey was on one of them - however they are so common around this area.
Dunedin is about 30 minutes away to the north of Sarasota. Looking forward to visiting Osprey and .hope it lives up to its name.
A video of he Pink Shell Beach Resort nest at Fort Myers, for those of you on FB. Using this as a base, I found the nest on GE
I find it surprising how close to humans American osprey tolerate.
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
ShielaFE - The American Ospreys are no way like there counterparts in the UK regarding tolerating humans. But then the rest of the wildlife in FL is very much like that - The Alligators creep up to the edge of the golf greens but don't disturb you. The Manatees and Dolphins come close to you when swimming in the Gulf Coast
This particular area was about 3 miles from Pink Shell just off Estero Island at the Lovers Key State Park recreation area. We stopped off on the way to Sanibel and as we sat for refreshment this osprey landed beside us on the picnic bench and sat there with its fish watching us constantly for half an hour.
On Sanibel just put up a platform like that at Dunedin and you have a nest.
The Lee County Electric Cooperative used to put them up for the residents in their garden in an effort to keep them from nesting on the electric poles.
I love watching ospreys on the FL Gulf Coast.
Hello dear Gabbers,
this is just a quick note from me. Although January is almost over, I would like to wish you all the best for 2016 (I think I haven't done so yet). Hopefully you are all well. I am perfectly well. I had a great beginning at work: My colleagues are nice to me, and I was able to impress my boss once or twice. All the formalities for my move here are complete. My dear sweet darling must be more in love with me than I could have imagined, because he usually gets up from sleep for having breakfast with me before I leave home for work. This must be very hard, as he comes home from work at 3 AM and I have to get up at 5:30AM. He will not be doing this forever, I'm sure, so I enjoy every time.
It is getting late now, so I'll have to finish for now. But I'll write again soon.
Kind regards, Bente
Bente and All Gabbers, wishing you a very Happy and Healthy New Year, too! Bente, how lovely that your sweetheart gets up to have breakfast with you!
Keith, When will you be in Florida again? It must have been fantastic to have that Osprey land so close to you--I am green with envy! I look forward to hearing your reports of sighting Ospreys there again.
Kind regards, Ann
How wonderful to come across an osprey, Keith. I get that excitement when I encounter a buzzard, and have never had a close encounter with an osprey!
I live surrounded by farmland (not my farmland!) and as I came home the other day, down the track I disturbed a buzzard which was sitting on the side of the ditch which runs passed the house, down hill towards the village. With the rain we have had it often has running water in it which must drive rodents from the bank holes. It took off and flapped a few flaps to the other side of my track bridge and landed again. I turned the engine off and watched as it sort of bounced very slowly down the banks of the ditch looking for an easy morsel. That in itself was memorable for me!
Hello Bente, and a very Happy New Year to you. I am glad to hear that you are settling in to your new job. What an amazing 'sweet heart' you have! That is pure devotion!
The weather centre on The Cairngorms recorded wind speed of 137 MPH earlier today.
Yesterday Chris Packham was missing from Winterwatch due to a stomach bug - wonder if he and Michaela Strachan along with Martin have been blown away.
The Eagle camera trap in The Lomond and Trossachs National Park was good viewing last night with the stand off between the Fox and The Eagle. David has dropped a message not to miss it tonight as it gets even better and if the BBC Winterwatch do not show it he will.
JUNE - Currently Lerwick Harbour is getting winds of 105MPH. I,ve taken a live snip from Sumburgh Head Cliff Cam on Shetland.
On a clear winters night you've got a good chance of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights on the cam. I use it to watch the Puffins nesting in Spring.