Urban Ospreys

[SMB2]

This has to be the most relaxed Osprey pair on the planet. This is the third year that they have nested on a piling about 20 feet from a dock in Old Town, Alexandria Va. They put up with airplanes taking off from DC Reagan, boat traffic and tons of people. Last year their two chicks made it through 70mph TS winds and 4th of July fire works. There are three chicks this year; probably hatched 7-10 days ago.
In the first shot you can see the Capital building outline bottom right.

http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/LongLure/7Osprey05302013_Bysshe_20130530_20024-Version2_zpsbad5e68c.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/LongLure/media/7Osprey05302013_Bysshe_20130530_20024-Version2_zpsbad5e68c.jpg.html)


http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/LongLure/7Osprey05302013_Bysshe_20130530_20030-Version2_zps1c528444.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/LongLure/media/7Osprey05302013_Bysshe_20130530_20030-Version2_zps1c528444.jpg.html)


http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac196/LongLure/7Osprey05302013_Bysshe_20130530_20187-Version2_zpsff84780c.jpg (http://s899.photobucket.com/user/LongLure/media/7Osprey05302013_Bysshe_20130530_20187-Version2_zpsff84780c.jpg.html)

[terps]

Nice photos.

The ospreys just hatched in Montana.

http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/39/Dunrovin_Ospreys/

[DiscusLoverJeff]

Great photography!

Nice looking birds too.

[Sandy Clay]

OMG those pictures are awesome! I will have to show these to my husband, he is a wildlife nut:)

[pauline]

Wow!!!! Gorgeous photos.

[robp]

Lovely!! Ospreys were nearly extinct in the UK but we've now got them back although I've never had chance to see them here. I visited Florida last year and saw a pair nesting outside one of the Disney Parks! My kids weren't impressed when I told them it was my highlight of the holiday lol

[SMB2]

Same in the US; almost gone from the East Coast from in shell mortality due to DDT. Once it was banned in the US a remarkable come back for this raptor. Now they are common and nest like this pair in the most urban of settings.
Will try to post weekly shots, like watching discus grow...