Last year while on a jobsite I noticed a pair of eagles bringing some sticks back to an Osprey nest that was built on a cell phone tower. The eagles continued to build up the nest and eventually the female laid at least one egg and started incubating.
The Osprey returned for the season to their nest site and didn't like the eagles had taken over so a constant battle started over who had rights to the nest. Because the female eagle was only 4 years old she eventually gave up on the nest. The male being older put up with the Osprey attacts and incubated the egg(s) the best he could for another few weeks but eventually he gave up as well.
The eagles started building a new nest in a Loblolly Pine tree on the other side of a lake but it was too late in the season for them to finish the nest.
Fast forward to now....the pair of eagles have established a new territory and are starting on the nest from late last season.
The nest tree is out in the open and offers some great photo opportunities from all angles. The only downside is the eagles seem to work on the nest before the sun comes up and finish right around 7:30-8am and go about their business elsewhere.
1. Before the sun came up....(male)
2. Sun is almost up at this point. (male)
3. Sun peeking through a cluster of trees behind me. (female)
4..The light is getting there but still not ideal. (male)
5. Ideal light. (male)
6. The female soon left and the male brought in one more branch then left himself.
7. Flaring out the wings before entering the nest tree. (male)
8. After the eagles left last weekend I snapped a picture of what their nest looks like.....not much to look at now but eventually it'll get finished.
