Osprey

My second sighting of an Osprey this year was like the first, at Valley Water, only I was closer and the light was much better.

This one is banded, but those federal bands are pretty hard to read unless the bird is in hand. In years past, Osprey nesting in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge were satellite-tag and tracked to (fall) and from (spring) Colombia. The destination was the same for some who nested on Nantucket Island. (It takes about two weeks to make the trip.)

The bird circled Valley Water over and over until…

Plunging feet-first into the water for prey.

And missed! In fact, the bird missed catching anything twice. I’m sure a third attempt would have been made if a Red-tailed Hawk hadn’t flown onto the scene, putting the Osprey off their game.