Osprey 1 through 5

 I gather up M for a trip into the East River marsh.  We haven't been out together since last fall and the weather, although cloudy, is pretty good for canoeing.  The water is still in the 40's, so weather gets extra consideration.

As we set out, there is a Red-Throated Loon fishing where the Neck River meets the East.  A mature Bald Eagle is perched in a familiar spot about a 1/4 mile downstream.There is a bit of ebb current, but nothing worth complaining about.  As we head up the East River, we flush a couple of small flocks of Buffleheads.  Otherwise, it is fairly quiet with respect to birds.

In Bailey Creek

 Rather than head up the East River, we turn into the Sneak and connect up with Bailey Creek.  A few days ago, there were several Vultures up higher in the creek and it is worth an explore to see if we can spot what might have interested them.  But first, M spots a turtle shell on the bank, which we collect with some skillful rope tricks.  It's a good sized "painted type" turtle shell about 10 inches long.  We ascend the creek up to the road where it disappears and then return spotting nothing other than a few Mallards.

Osprey #1

When we get down to the confluence with the Neck River, we turn up that flow.  I haven't been in this are for a couple years.  It passes close by a "natural" Opsrey nest which is still unoccupied.  But, we spot our first Osprey of the year at a nesting box just upstream.  We continue up to the end of the paddleable river and return passing the Osprey again.  Then, as we get back down to the confluence with the creek, we spot a second low flying Osprey and hearing calls find a third hovering up high.  As we are taking out I spot a fourth on the far side of a river carrying a branch to the nearest nesting box.  It looks to me like there might be another on the nest.  M gets the binoculars and confirms that number five is in fact at the nest.