10/04/2015 On the Chesapeake Bay at Urbanna 12+ Ospreys

Friday 10th April 2015
Urbanna on the Chesapeake Bay



This was our first chance to go to the Chesapeake Bay.  While Adam did a repair on his boat Sue and I took the chance to admire the Ospreys and look at some of the other birds that were around.

Osprey in flight
Library picture

We managed to see at least 12 Ospreys in the few hours we were there, with at least 5 nests showing clearly - all of them in use.  The nearest nesting pair were less than 100 yards from the boat and the male was coming and going all the time.




Ospreys on nest
Library picture

 At one point I could see 5 Osprey in the air at the same time - an awesome sight.




Here are some of the other birds seen:

Buffleheads
Library picture

I managed to count at least 20 of these lovely diving ducks.  In the picture above you can see 3 males and 3 females swimming together.

Laughing Gull
Library picture

There were at least 25 of these gulls, all in breeding plumage and a far cry from the one I saw at New Brighton a few weeks ago.

Horned Grebe
Library picture

There were 3 or 4 of these stunning grebes, just starting to come into breeding plumage.  These are better known to us as Slavonian Grebes.









Great Blue Heron
Library picture

There were a couple of these around the bay.





There were also 6+ Turkey Vultures, at least 2 Black Vultures, a couple of Northern Cardinals,  a couple of Double-crested Cormorants and lots of Swallows.





A really lovely morning out, in splendid hot weather, to see the spectacle of so many Ospreys gathered in one small part of the Chesapeake Bay.