Date: 4/29/26 5:37 pm From: Chuq Von Rospach via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Fay Bainbridge Osprey (and happy spring!)
There is a nest (easily visible from the beach parking lot) at Fay
Bainbridge park that has hosted both Bald Eagles and Osprey. I’ve been
watching it on and off the last couple of years, and last year there were
eagles there for a while and then it went empty (no idea if it was
occupied by the Osprey later, I wasn’t checking). This year there has been
AN eagle near or on the nest tree on and off, but I never saw a pair there
and as of three weeks ago, it wasn’t sitting on eggs, so not successful
again this year.
But a couple of days ago, I saw a report that the Osprey’s showed up for a
fight, and kicked the eagle off the nest. I went out there this afternoon
to see if I could see anything, and sure enough, I could BARELY see the
very top of the head of a bird sitting in the nest — watching it for a
while I finally got a good enough look to see it was an Osprey, so this is
now, it seems, and Osprey nest, and she seems to already be on an egg. I’ll
be keeping an eye on it to see how it goes, but it seems it’s occupied, and
it’s both very easy to find but pretty well protected from mayhem (short of
flying a drone), so it’s a nice place to take people interested in
(hopefully) watching these birds raise the next generation.
In more general spring bird news, I had my first sighting of a beautiful
male Western tanager visiting the feeder today, and Merlin caught a call of
a Black-headed Grosbeak, but I haven’t gotten sight of it yet. Both are
regulars here and confirmed breeding in recent years. We also have Flickers
visiting the suet for the first time in a couple of years (and making a
racket) so they seem to be setting up a nest nearby (and are confirmed past
breeders). We also have Pileateds and they visit the suet infrequently, but
while I’m hearing them regularly, they’re generally a bit distant, although
we had very near drumming about a week ago (they are also confirmed
breeders on the property, but we haven’t seen chicks in a couple of years).
Unfortunately, a female Hairy woodpecker that was a daily visitor for 3-4
years and a presumed breeder hasn’t been seen in about 3 months, so she’s
moved on. The Western Flycatchers arrived a couple of weeks ago, and we
have Pacific Wrens making lots of noise in at least three locations, and at
least three pairs of Purple Finches visiting the feeders. All of our
expected spring residents have now made an appearance except the Swainson’s
Thrush, and I expect they’ll arrive in the next couple of weeks.
Unexpected but likely migrant was a quick visit by a Golden-crowned
sparrow, seen/heard once and then they moved on. We occasionally get
-crowned in small numbers irregularly, but they’re not regular visitors
here, so it’s a bit notable.
Happy spring!
chuq
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Chuq Von Rospach (http://www.chuq.me)
Silverdale, Washington
Birder, Nature and Wildlife Photographer
