Osprey enjoys flight above Carden Alvar, Ontario

Osprey in flight at Carden Alvar, City of Kawartha Lakes in Ontario

After spending all day at the Carden Alvar in Ontario, basically patrolling along Wylie Road north to the T intersection and back again to McNamee Road,  Bob decided that we should continue to check out some other areas of that protected habitat before we made for home.  Cameron Ranch and Canal Lake both deserved a short visit, and near the causeway that crosses the lake we discovered one pair of Osprey already occupying a nesting platform.

Osprey sitting in a tree Carden Alvar, City of Kawartha Lakes in Ontario

Before we approached the causeway, Bob and I had been scanning the sky for the Osprey, but it was in a leafless deciduous tree that we found the first one of the day.

Osprey looking aroud while sitting in a tree Carden Alvar, City of Kawartha Lakes in Ontario

Only Bob got out of the car to photograph the Osprey, and the bird was keenly aware of his movements even though we were hundreds of feet away across some open water and a bit of marshland.

Osprey lands on tree limb at Carden Alvar, City of Kawartha Lakes in Ontario

Eventually, the Osprey settled into the routine of preening its feathers and then finally took flight across the water.

Osprey soaring high above Carden Alvar, City of Kawartha Lakes in Ontario

Because we were on the causeway, our position was somewhat elevated, which gave us an interesting perspective on the Osprey as it soared above us.  Looking at the photos, it appears like we were at eye level with it.

Osprey sitting in nest near Carden Alvar, City of Kawartha Lakes in Ontario

The Osprey swooped around the area for several minutes then settled on the nesting platform where its mate was already stationed.  We had been so taken with the first Osprey that we hadn’t even noticed the platform or the second bird even though it was close by.

Osprey sitting in nest near Carden Alvar, City of Kawartha Lakes in Ontario

A change up occurred with the second Osprey now taking to the air…

Osprey soaring in the sky high above Carden Alvar, City of Kawartha Lakes in Ontario

I was hoping that we might get to see the Osprey dive for a fish, but it simply flew back and forth from one side of the causeway to the other and occasionally landing in a distant tree.

Osprey soaring in the sky high above Carden Alvar, City of Kawartha Lakes in Ontario

As it was very late in the afternoon, Bob and I had to tear ourselves away from our observations because we had one last stop to make at Cameron Ranch then it would be time to grab a bite to eat and complete the 2-hour drive home.  We had had a marvelous day filled with a few Lifers, and now we knew the lay of the land at the Carden Alvar.  We would be even better prepared for our next visit!

You May Also Enjoy:

american woodcook, carden alvar, city of kawartha lakes, ontario, pic1

An American Woodcock at the Carden Alvar

blandings turtle, carden alvar, city of kawartha lakes, ontario, pic 15

A Blanding’s Turtle at the Carden Alvar

eastern bluebird, carden alvar, carden township, city of kawartha lakes, ontario, pic 10

Eastern Bluebirds at Carden Alvar in Ontario

brown thrasher - lynde shores conservation area - whitby 7

Brown Thrasher At Lynde Shores Conservation Area

kudu, kruger national park, south africa

Our South African Journey to Kruger National Park

monarch butterflies along creek at el rosario biosphere reserve, mexico 9

Among the Winged Magic at El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Reserve

Frame To Frame – Bob and Jean

2 comments

feedback welcome