What could be more appropriate for the Maryland OSPREY list then an
interesting Osprey sighting?!

 

I had the opportunity to stay at the Kent Manor Inn yesterday. (It was a
work-related staff retreat-not too shabby, huh?) Late in the afternoon, my
co-workers and I were lounging on the dock on Thompson Creek, and I spotted
an adult Osprey flying low and slow over the Kent Manor property. But, it
was not fishing-it was flying into a tree with lots of dead branches,
snapping off twigs or small branches, and flying back to a nesting platform
on the opposite side of the creek! Then I watched as it took turns with its
mate, pulling off branches (some with leaves) or scooping up dry grass
clumps from the lawn, and flying back to the nest. The nest wasn't very
"deep"-but it did have at least one large juvenile in the nest! So, the pair
weren't building a nest, but clearly adding to an existing one while the
kid(s) was still at home. According to Stokes' Guide to Bird Behavior, vol.
III, the female engages in this activity through the nestling phase. I
thought it was pretty neat, because I have never had the chance to watch
Ospreys "build" a nest. 

 

Other birds seen: Fish Crow, Eastern Kingbirds (feeding a fledgling),
Northern Mockingbirds (and fledglings), Carolina Wren, Northern Cardinals,
Green Herons, and Great Blue Heron. Thought I might have heard Northern
Bobwhite, too. 

 

BTW, the Kent Manor Inn is a nice place to stay. It's on the Maryland
Historic Registry (the original wing of the house was built in 1820). Rooms
are quite comfortable and have their own baths. Dining is either inside, or
out on an enclosed porch. (Their crab cakes were very yummy!)

 

Sue Probst

Columbia, Howard County