Seeing nature through eyes of a 500mm lens

Here are some of the photos I was able to get of the Ospreys...all in flight as that is all they were doing.

2nd shot of the Osprey

3rd photo of the Osprey

4th photo

another shot of them

Crisp, clear and spectacular photos, all of them. Met, your photos are always a joy to see.

another shot

Thanks Ducbucln

getting to the end, one more

Alright, the last one. Again can anyone tell me what stage is the nest building. I want to try and follow along with the breeding process as much as I can.

Thanks

Excellent Osprey photos at 700mm, Met. I was in the neighborhood on Sunday but didn't take the time to visit Jug's Bay.
The only Osprey nest that I have ever photographed in the area was at the location noted in the attached photo. I just setup my tripod right in the parking lot at the bottom of the hill. Are any of the three nests located here ? Were you also in the Merkle Wildlife Management area ?

If they're experienced parents she will most likely lay eggs soon. Have you seen them mating ? They will lay eggs sometime between 3 and 7 days after mating. The nests look pretty complete. Although they keep adding sticks probably from sheer boredom.

I'm not sure that you will really disturb them. A lot of the Osprey are somewhat used to human presence, unless you get too close. You got some nice shots from whatever the distance was to the nest.

Outstanding shots Met!!! I love the Osprey so it's a great pleasure to see such nice photos!!

Nice Osprey set Met!!

Hello and thanks everyone.

Linth, no it's not that one. It's around the river (to the right of your arrow) from there off of the Critical Area drive (CAD). You may be familiar with this but if not...you'd have to leave Jugs Bay and at the entrance take a left onto Airport Croom Rd and go to the bottom of the hill (about 1/2 to 1 mile) and at the end of the road make a left into the park, which will take around to the CAD. The CAD is a 3 mile wildlife trail (one way drive) that takes you to Merkle Wildlife Refuge and the Nature Center area; it's open to car traffic only on Sundays from 10am to closing and open to foot traffic all the time. There are 3 nest platforms that the Ospreys usually take up residence. All three are being actively pursued now. If you can post up the CAD (part of or tied to the Jugs Bay, Patuxent center program) like you did Jugs Bay I may be able to show you on the diagram.

The nest at the #2 platform I posted above, you'd love the view as it's wide open and close enough for exellent shots and BIF shots. The #1 platform picture is good for nest shots but BIF shots would be tough as there's just a small opening in the trees on either side. Let me know if you want to meet up there someday.





This message was edited Apr 13, 2010 10:11 AM

WOW.....to have access to be able to watch 3 nest.....WOW!

Yeah Nanny it is good and bad thing as I want to be at all them at the same time; if only I could clone myself. The other bad thing is the drive doesn't open 'til 10am.

Well now that would be a bummer...but man how cool!

Man, I hadn't realized it's been 9 days since I've been on.
Nanny, you'd love the view of these nests.

Well I am going to start a new thread.

See you over there: