Predator Pair Aloft

The distinctive cry of an osprey caught my attention early this afternoon on return from a shopping trip. It took a couple of minutes before a pair wheeled directly overhead, slowly circling each other and scanning the waterways below. They split up, staying within sight and sound of each other. One headed off to the south and west a bit, sweeping over two ponds and related tributaries; the other moved north to scan a set of three ponds and a river outlet from its high viewpoint. Against a bright blue sky, their black and white v-patterns were clear and vibrant, a healthy pair perhaps due to set up nesting facilities for the summer.

The thermometer in the sun cracked 70 for the first time, although the actual air temp was more like 56. It managed to get to 60 for most of the afternoon as our struggling daffodils that have been fighting the ocean's chilly effects finally burst into blossom; at least a few did, there are some closer to the water that remain at the ready.

New attendees at the feeding station are three cowbirds -- a male and two females. They arrived last week.

Mama mallard is hiding out most of the time, although she showed up at midday to eat some of the seeds at the feeding station. She has likely found a nesting spot. Her mate is on permanent guard duty, posting along the pond edge and driving off any other bird that dares alight on its surface. Quite a job at first, I suspect, as we had nearly three dozen mallards hanging around for weeks.