Observatins this week & Photos

Hogback Road Osprey nest #4 had two youngsters fledge on Sunday or Monday July 15 or 16, 2007. (Just as Dick Tuttle had calculated.) The smaller of the three young has had the nest to it's self, he/she should join it's brothers or sisters flying soon.

The mom and pop Osprey have been busy bringing lots of fish to the nest as the young have been feeding themselves.

As seen in one of the photos taken in the very large tree at the top of the hill from the parking lot at the big cliff, there will be many great photo opportunities in the next couple of weeks. You will not need the worlds largest lenses to get good photos. Keep your eyes on the trees near the edges of Hogback Road.

Don't forget that Saundra Sklar from Delaware Preservation Parks, ((740) 524-8600, ext. 6) will be up on the cliff in the parking lot at the top of the hill on Saturday July 21 & 28 at 9:30 am til about 11:00. She will have spotting scopes set up for all to "get up and personal" with the Osprey! Look into their eyes!

www.preservationparks.com

Nest #1 young are due to fledge next Monday, July 23. The two young have been exercising their wings the last few days.

Also note the the water has been dropping about a inch a day for two weeks. You will see a lot more of the mud flats appear each day. Lots of killdeer and yellow leg shore birds can be found near platform #1, as well as ducks, geese, King Fishers, cliff swallows and Big Blue and Little Green Herons.

Also, it seems that the 5th wheel is still around. I'm pretty sure she was being chased by the two males this morning.

Frank Germann