Rosie returned without fanfare this year and there was disagreement about when she actually returned. A female osprey landed on the nest on February 25 and Richie joined her, but it apparently was not Rosie. You can watch the video for yourself and decide. This year, there are more ospreys than ever, all flying in from their stay down South, so it is harder to say who is who. Below are two more photos taken by our faithful LtL from the ground. These definitely do not appear to be Richie or Rosie.
 Osprey eating fish on ROV wire. Afternoon of Feb. 25 photo by LtL. |  Osprey on ROV wire. Afternoon of Feb. 25. photo by LtL |
The dilapidated nest Feb. 25, 2022. cap by midi
Meanwhile, the nest is a mess. . The raven pair and the crows have been coming all winter to pick at the nest. Lately, they have been stealing sticks regularly to build their own nests. One such nest appears to be in progress on the near light pole in the car ship lot.
Four ospreys have been seen flying at the Whirley Crane, jostling for position. There have been some skirmishes. The crows and ravens have also been at the nest a lot. It provides easy picking for the corvid nests. The raven pair is making a nest on a light pole in the port parking lot, where the new cars sit. Meanwhile, at the Richmond Yacht Club, a pair appears to have settled in at that nest.
 Osprey tussle. Feb. 27, 20222 at 11:18 am. cap by C |  Tussle. Feb. 27 11:29 am cap by C |
 Osprey on ROV wire, a favorite roosting spot this year so far. Feb. 26. 4pm. cap by Dianne A |  Two ospreys on the crane, Fab. 28 10:15 am. cap by Dianne A |
Female osprey on railing, Feb. 28, 2022. cap by craigor
 Two ospsreys on nest Feb. 28. 10:22 am  Bringing a stick then dropping it March 1. 10:48 am. cap by Dianne A  Moving sticks around Feb. 28. 10:24 am. cap by J |  Mantling. Feb. 28. 10:22 am. cap by chaya  Raven's nest being built on light pole with sticks from the osprey nest. Feb. 28. photo by chaya. |
Raven takes a long stick from the nest. Feb. 28. cap by calgal They have been dismantling the nest and now are working on the soft material.
March 4: Some chatters believe Rosie arrived by March 4. You can look at the caps below and decide for yourself. They have been seen together on the crane and on the nest in the past few days. Or is it a different female with Richie?
 2 ospreys on the crane, March 3 cap by C |  Two ospreys on the nest March 4 in the morning. cap by Dianne A |
There is general consensus that by March 7, Rosie had definitely arrived and begun to bond with Richie.
CK attempt March 7 at 10:39 am cap by midi
Rosie calling for Richie. March 9, 10:05 am cap by midi
 Rosie on the rail. March 8. cap by lurker  Watching for Richie and fish. March 8. cap by lurker |  Both on the rail, March 9 8:49 am. cap by PP  Rosie on nest with passing ship. March 7. 11:22 am. cap by midi |
| F#m Been all day in flight talons wet with my meal There’s a voice in my head, has a certain appeal It’s my mate he’s calling, says I need you here! It’s getting dark, I just caught my dinner E B F#m On my flight home, I gotta feed, I gotta rest E B F#m I gotta think about reclaiming my nest C# Bsus2 Wanna hear his mating call!! D A E F#m We got a thing that’s called Pandion Love D A E F#m He’s gonna dive from the sky! D A E F#m We’re gonna mate, I’m gonna make some new flyers D A E We’re gonna perpetuate F#m Pandion Love F#m Got my nest in sight better clear the runway Gotta eat something by the end of the day There’s my mate, he’s waiting on the whirley crane! He’s gonna bring me a fish, we’re gonna have a CK! E B F#m Found my way home, I’m gonna sleep on a wire, E B F#m The happy chatters will all be inspired -- C# Bsus2 They’ve been waiting for me all winter long. D A E F#m We got a thing that’s called Pandion Love D A E F#m We got a date with desire D A E F#m We’re gonna mate, he’s gonna make a great sire D A E We’re gonna perpetuate F#m Pandion Love | Over the Rainbow Somewhere, over the rainbow Way up high, There’s an osprey flying, Flying high in the sky. Somewhere, over the rainbow, By the Bay, Rosie is flying home to us, Flying home today. She’s flying through the Golden Gate And at the nest her loyal mate Will meet her. We’ll also hurry to the nest, To see our Rosie we love best, And we will greet her. Somewhere, over the rainbow, Ospreys fly. They fly over the rainbow, Why then, oh why can’t I? If ospreys fly beyond the rainbow, Why, oh why can’t I? Welcome Rosie Welcome back, our Rosie, Welcome home today. We are glad to see you, Our favorite osprey. Did you have a good time Down in Southern clime? Did you like to live alone, Down there on your own? Now it’s time to get busy, Find Richie and mate, Gather sticks and eelgrass, Start to nestorate. Lay some eggs, 1, 2, 3 For us all to see, We will watch day and night ‘Til dawn’s early light. Chicks will hatch and will grow, Leaving us on edge, ‘Til the day that fully grown, They decide to fledge. Then the skies we will scan For their bright blue band, ‘Til the day that you and they Fly down South to stay. Then Richie will be alone, On his own once more, Fishing for himself again At the reservoir. But Rosie, you will return, That we have now learned. We know you always do, We can count on you. So let’s now raise a toast To our ospreys dear, Here’s to Rosie, Richie too, And a New Osprey Year. |
Nest Building: Isn't That a Crazy Nest?
Rosie and Richie are settling in. They are seen together more and Richie has begun attempting CK's. Rosie visits the nest but does not spend much time there. She has been sitting on the rail quite a bit. They also spend time on the Dutra Crane. They were bringing sticks to the Dutra Crane, so the crane operators lowered the crane. There have been some sticks brought to a light over the parking lot. And a few brought to the nest. But they seem perplexed as to how to place the sticks.
 State of the nest March 11. cap by PP  Richie redecorates March 11. cap by lurker |  March 17. meme by craigor  Richie brings nesting material. March 11. cap by J |
 Guarding the nest. March 11. cap by seabiscuit  Bringing nesting material. March 17 lurker  But the material ended up on the Dutra crane, since lowered to prevent its use. March 12. photo by chaya  Meme by craigor. March 21 |   Rosie bringing in nesting material. March 12 photo by Chaya. They are getting more interested in bringing nesting material but aren't sure where they want it. They have brought sticks to the Dutra crane and to a light pole, as well as the nest.  Having a conversation on the light pole March 21. cap by midi |
To illustrate the issues facing Richie and Rosie this year, the following video shows Rosie trying to nestorate and instead sliding down the nest along with the clump she was trying to incorporate. She easily flew off subsequently, as you can see if you watch to the end.
The intruder female with the speckled bosom has aggressively tried to woo Richie, but he is now having nothing to do with her. Meanwhile, he and Rosie are bonding more.
 Richie confronts female intruder. March 22 in the morning. cap by lurker |  Female acting submissive a bit later. cap by lurker |
Richie shoos female away. cap by lurker
Meanwhile, Rosie fed herself and began to think about nesting. She and Richie slept together on the wires at night. Did they talk things over osprey fashion then? After the Dutra Crane was lowered, they brought sticks to a light pole. They also started a pile on the upper sheave.
 State of the nest on March 23. cap by PP |  Close-up of the nest on March 23. cap by PP. |
 The nest being built on the upper sheave. cap by PP |  Far view of upper nest |
The two nests. March 24, cap by PP
Craigor and Del Prado Brothers playing Osprey Nest