Female and male Ospreys on their nest, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Daggett County, UtahFemale and male Ospreys on their nest – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited 

I was hoping to find my first of the year Swainson’s Hawks yesterday but instead I spotted my first of year Ospreys.

I am always looking for birds. It does not matter where I am or what I am doing. I can be at home, in the field, or zooming along the Interstate. I look and listen for birds.

On the way home from Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I looked to see what large birds might be in the trees at Willard Bay State Park and I also checked out the nesting platforms that were installed there a few years ago. It was precisely 09:45 a.m. when I saw not one but two Ospreys on one of the nesting platforms and they were mating!

I didn’t get any photos of course because I was on the road zooming along at 75 mph but I was excited to see that Utah’s Ospreys are back for the breeding season.

Watchful Osprey, Honeymoon Island State Park, Pinellas County, FloridaWatchful Osprey – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/750, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light, not baited 

Now that I know the Ospreys are back I will start to keep my living room window open a bit to see if I can hear them calling at my local pond. Sometimes they stop at the pond for a day or two on migration and I’d love to get photos of them there. Or anywhere.

Seeing and hearing Ospreys always makes me happy.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Osprey photos plus facts and information about this species.

The top photo was taken at Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area in 2012. The bottom Osprey photo was taken at Honeymoon Island State Park in Florida in 2008.