Osprey trifles

If one had to compile a list of the significant verities of local Ospreys, I suppose that two items would stand out:

• Although Ospreys breed and raise chicks locally, they migrate and spend their winters in Central and northern South America.
• Ospreys feed on live fish.

Today’s posting does not rise to the significance of these facts: it treats trifles of the everyday life of our favourite summer resident.

Ospreys suffer constant harassment by wasps — after all, they both like fish. There is a wasp in the centre of this picture.

In addition to the wasps, this picture shows a frequent Osprey preparation for flying: It is defecating. This is presumably a way to lighten the load. Defecating just prior to flying is a common practice among large birds, from eagles to hawks. It might be argued that this is also the reason that Canada Geese leave such a mess on our lawns. They must constantly poop so as to be as light as possible in case a predator prompts them to fly. This female adult will soon migrate.

The omnipresence of wasps in underscored by this shot of a juvenile. It is flying off with a partially eaten fish, but it is accompanied by a wasp. The wasp will fail to keep pace with the Osprey.

A somewhat unexpected view of an osprey is this one of it dragging its claws in the Lake. No, it is not fishing. It has already been feasting on fish and is now merely washing its claws.