Osprey Season Part 4: Off the Nest

The on the nest chapter has ended early this year, as one chick never hatched and the other died a few days after hatching. While sad for the human watchers, Richie and Rosie know that life must go on. Rosie spends some time on the nest still and Richie a bit. But they are eating off the  nest mostly. The Matrix Master summarizes: Sunday Rosie brought a fish and Richmond took it. Monday Richmond brought a fish and Rosie took it. Yesterday Richmond brought a fish and nobody took it, then apparently caught another fish and never brought it.
​ We don't see everything that happens off the nest, although our cam ops  catch them on the light poles eating and our faithful Toaster28 gets video of them on the lightpoles and occasionally flying with a fish. 

Richie and Rosie flying together? photo by Toaster 28. June 15, 2023. 11:11  am and 10:51 am. 

June 16-19. Rosie and Richie are spending much time off the nest. However, they do connect with each other daily and sometimes bring a fish to the nest or just sit there. Other times, they perch nearby. There have been a lot of stray ospreys flying about. Other nests have chicks right now, so those ospreys would be staying close to their nest. It is unclear who these others are. But Richie had an entanglement with one female who just wouldn't leave the nest. it gave us a the opportunity to watch up close how he deals with a stranger. 
The crows have been less persistent. Perhaps they had been waiting for that unviable egg or perhaps they have moved on in their season as well. 

Chickless but still together. June 17, 2023. Cap by Absent Corvid.

Don't disturb my meal! June 18, 2023. 9:58 am. cap by Toaster28

Rosie on the rail. June 16, 2023. cap by Leah

Richie has a fish.. June 15, 2023. cap by photo by chaya.

Flying ospreys. June 17, 2023 caps by Dk.

Richmond chases an intruder.  June 15, 2023 at 4:23 pm.   cap by watcher

June 29: Rosie and Richie continue to stay around the nest and to interact, but they don't spend a lot of time on the nest itself. Each catches fish and generally eats the fish on a nearby lightpole, but occasionally on the nest and they sometimes share their fish. Richie has attempted a few, not very successful CK's, probably mostly as a bonding activity. And they defend their nest from other birds. There are quite a few stray ospreys flying around these days. 
An interesting nest to watch if you are local and can visit the area is the Richmond Yacht Club nest. There are three fledglings on the nest and the mother. The father left but there is a new male there. The nest can be seen from the end of Sandpiper Spit lane. There is also an active nest near the entrance to the new car lot, on an electric pole. The male is quite handsome and the pair is active. Chatters call this the Porter nest. 
In general, the nests this year have not been as successful as in past years, probably due to the unseasonable weather earlier in the season. This is part of osprey life. Given that ospreys live 20 years, the population will increase if only a few years result in three successful offspring at a given nest. 
Chatter Toaster28 is our faithful reporter from the ground these days, taking photos of action that the cam doesn't catch. 

Richie brings a fish to rthe nest and Rosie takes it to her strut. June 20, 2023. Photo by Toaster28.

Rosie on the nest. June 27, 2023. at 5:21 pm. cap by midi

Rosie and Richie return to the nest. CK?  June 27, 2923. video by VA. 

Both on the nest. June 21, 2023. 5:59 am. cap by craigor.

Richie brings Rosie a fish. Collage by Toaster28. 

July 8- Rosie and Richie continue to stay near the nest, visiting to just sit or to eat a fish. Occasionally, Richie brings Rosie a fish but not often. There are now floaters around, ospreys without their own nests, and they visit the Whirley lower nest regularly. Rosie and Richie usually chase them off. The crows and ravens also come but are not a menace now with no chicks. And the gulls land on the lower nest periodically. One can imagine that it is a carefree existence for Richie and Rosie right now, concerned only with maintaining ownership of the Whirley nest and crane and feeding their own bellies. 

Both on the sheave nest June 30, 2023 8:15 pm. cap by watcher

Unknown osprey on the sheave nest. July 7, 2023 at 7:47 am. cap by CdA

Richie and Rosie on the sheave nest. July 4, 2023. 8:31 pm. cap by watcher

One Osprey on the wire (and the other probably close by). July 4, 2023 at 10pm.

Rosie and the ravens July 8, 2023. 9:16am. cap by guest

Unknown osprey. July 7, 2023 12:10 pm. cap by watcher

Rosie in her favorite spot on the crane July 11, 2023. cap by Robin

For those who are interested, there appear to be 3 fledglings at the Richmond Yacht Club nest. The adult male disappeared but either reappeared or another adult male moved in. There is an active nest at the entrance to the Port car lot on an electric pole, nicknamed the Porter nest. And there are active nests on the Point Molate road and out in the Bay there. The osprey population in the East Bay is definitely increasing!

July 17: Rosie had been missing for several days and we were wondering where she was. Meanwhile, another female osprey, presumably a young one, has been visiting the nest. She has not been welcomed by Richie. Today, Rosie flew in with a large striper and landed on the nest. Richie joined her. She has been around the nest area since, carrying her big striper with her wherever she goes. Richie has been patient and doesn't even beg for a morsel. 

Rosie's striper. July 17, 2023. at 19:13 pm cp by watcher

Rosie and her fish. JUly 18, 2023. 2:21 pm. cap by TAG

Unknown female "floater" to the nest July 16, 2023. 7:57 am cap by Toaster28

Rosie and Richie on the rail with her fish. July 17, 2023. cap by watcher

Egret visitor to the nest. July 16. 2023. cap by craigor

Visitor to the nest. July 17, 2023. 3:57 pm. cap by CdA.

Two Birds on a Wire. All is Right with the World. Richie and Rosie at 9:2 pm cap by midi

From Regina Spector: Two Birds on a Wire.  Sung by the DelPrado Brothers: Craig Griffeath, Jeff Griffeath and Co. 

Video from VA of the action today with the visitor and Rosie returning with a large striper. 

​July 18

Rosie with her day old striper. July 18, 2023. 7:18 am. cap by midi

Rosie on the strut with her fish. July 18, 2023. 9:06 am. cap. by midi.

Richie waiting for a bite. July 18, 2023, 7:38 am. Cap by midi

Richie still waiting. July 18, 2023. 9:37 am. cap by midi

July 26: Richie and Rosie make occasional visits to the sheave nest. One or the other and sometimes both of them. Sometimes, a fish is brought as well. Other times, they are on the light poles or in the vicinity. 

Richie feeling amorous. July 22, 2023. cap by craigor

Fish brought to the nest. July 21, 2023 cap by unknown

Rosie brings a big fish to the rail. July 21, 2023. cap by Dk.

Rosie on her special perch. July 25, 2023. 6:35 am. cap by PP

Gulls on the lower nest. July 22, 2023. cap by watcher.

This site is to record the Whirley nest only. But in case readers are interested: The ospreys in general had a poor season, probably due to the unseasonal weather. However, the Porter nest off Canal Blvd. successfully hatched and fledged several chicks. That male is a very handsome one, with dark marks on the underside of its wings. And very active. He can be seen often flying in the area of his nest.
Point Molate and Pt. San Pablo, on the other side of the freeway, have quite a few nests. The nest at Pt. San Pablo Harbor appears to have three fledglings.. At least one other nest has been successful. 
There have been no reports of any osprey on the nest off the Richmond-San Rafael bridge. At Pt.Molate, a number of ospreys were seen flying over the Bay. 

August 6: Rosie and Richie continue to spend time around the Whirley Crane, visiting the sheave nest periodically and spending nights on the ROV wires. They are bringing some fish to eat at the nest. There have been some intruders but not too many and not very aggressive. Maybe some young floaters exploring the area, now that they've fledged. 

Richie on the nest with a fish. July 31, 2023. cap by craigor.

Rosie on the rail with a fish. August 1, 2023. cap by watcher.

Rosie on the rail. August 1, 2023. cap by dk.

Richie on the cable. August 4, 2023. 8:12 am. cap by PP.

Rosie preening. July 28, 2023. cap by calneva.

Rosie and Richie on the nest. July 31, 2023. cap by midi.

Rosie and Richie on the wires at night. July 30, 2023. cap by VA/

Close up of Rosie. August 1, 2023. cap by watcher

Who me? Share? August 2, 2023 at 7:29pm.. cap by watcher

The fish is eaten and Rosie glows in the twilight. August 2, 2023. cap by watcher.

Her crop full, Rosie flies off to bed. August 2, 2023, 9:17 pm.. cap by J.

Rosie and Richie continue to stay in the nest area. Richie spends the nights on the ROV wires and Rosie is presumably off camera. There are occasional floaters who visit the nest. Then Rosie and/or Richie fly in to defend the nest. The floaters appear to be young ospreys checking out the real estate.

Richie on the ROV wire at night, August 14, 2023. cap by midi.

Richie on cable August 4, 2023. cap by PP.

Rather awkward CK, August 10, 2023. cap by J.

August 24: Rosie and Richie have not been around much in the day and they are eating off camera. But we do see feaking thst indicates they have just eaten.They have been spending most nights together on the ROV wires.

The rope finally fell from the nest. It will become part of the retrieved nest items. 8 15 23. photo by T28.

Rosie on the rail. August 19, 2023. cap by craigor.

Two ospreys on the wire. August 18, 2023. 9:12 pm. cap by midi.

Richie on the crane, August 20, 2023. 7:55 am. cap by PP.

Rosie on the cable. August 24, 2023. 6:51 pm. cap by dk.

Both on the wire. August 24, 2023. 7:43 pm. cap by watcher.

August 31: It's the end of August and Rosie is still here. This is the time of year when she usually migrates. we shall see. For now, she and Richie are sitting together on the wires most nights and she pays an occasional visit to the rail. 

Both on the wires, August 26, 2023 8:39pm. cap by T28.

Rosie on the crane. August 27, 2023. 8:48 am. cap by Toaster28.

Rosie and Richie on the wires. August 30, 2023, 7:28 pm. cap by midi

Rosie on the rail. September 1, 2023. 7 ;33 am. Cap by dk/

Rosie on the railing. August 31, 2023. 4:07 pm. cap by watcher.

Rosie on the rail. September 3, 2023. 6:24 pm. cap by watcher

It appears that Rosie has begun her migration. She spent nights recently with Richie on the ROV wires and she spent some time on the nest railing. Ans she has not been seen for a positive identification since September 4. 

Farewell Rosie. We wish you a safe flight. May the wind lift your wings and speed you to your Southern home.

Richie and crows. September 7, 2023. cap by Toaster28

Richie. September 11, 2023. 10:15am. cap by Toaster28.

We hope Richie will visit us again this year at the Empty Nest Party on September 30.