An Osprey carries branch to its nest at Carden Alvar
On a mid-June visit to Carden Alvar in Ontario, Bob and I opted to tour the area in the reverse direction from our first visit when we crossed Canal Lake at dusk. First thing in the morning provided better light for photography, and there was no lack of activity near the Osprey nests. We were hoping that the Osprey did not drop its load as they flew over!
Early morning calm had Canal Lake as flat as a pancake.
As is usual, Osprey could be seen soaring in the air looking to score fish for breakfast, standing vigil over their nests that number near half a dozen,
or simply surveying their territory from on high.
I have to admit that Bob and I did not plan on sticking around long to photograph the Osprey hoping instead to see some early-morning activity by warblers, bobolinks or meadowlarks, but when this bird appeared overhead with a substantial branch dangling from its talons, we just had to capture that action.
Although several pairs of Osprey had already established aeries, apparently it was early enough in the season for this and another pair to just be starting a nest.
On a neighbouring telephone pole, a second bird arrived with a good-sized twig and added it to the base of another structure.
A couple of weeks prior, Bob and I had noted other pairs already sitting on their nests and defending their perches.
Perhaps these late-nesting Osprey had to suffice with the telephone poles given that all the man-made platforms were already spoken for. There were a good many weeks remaining in the summer, and these late nesters had a lot of work to do, but with construction materials the likes of which we had already seen being flown in, I imagine their nests were built in no time.
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