Osprey at Blue Heron Lake

 

Osprey & Raven, Blue Heron Lake

After wrapping up my Friday walk a day early, I went out on the bike to look for insects to photograph. As I was heading home, looking forward to lunch, I passed a woman looking through binoculars as I swung through Blue Heron Lake. I followed her line of sight and was surprised to see a huge bird at the top of the large pine near the nesting herons. My stomach beckoned me toward home, but I pulled over and soon recognized the bird as an osprey. Lunch could wait.

I've heard of folks seeing osprey out by Heron's Head Park, or at Lake Merced, but this is the first I've heard of one being at Blue Heron Lake. Unfortunately, it did not seem to be interested in hunting any of the large koi in the lake. A raven dropped by to check it out and was shouted back when the osprey felt it had gotten too close.

Singing Junco at Oak Woodlands

First time I've seen a black-crowned night heron at Lily Lake.

I'd just finished using a macro lens to photograph insects when this Western Bluebird showed up near its nest box with the morning's prize bug.

There was a mallard family hanging out on the little island at Middle Lake.

The chicks soon entered the water.

I didn't recognize the adults as mallards, taking the Merlin app's word for it.

Both great blue heron adults dropped by while the osprey was in their tree, but soon flew away to hunt after apparently concluding that their nestlings were in no danger.

A hummingbird showed up to drink nectar, diverting attention from the osprey.

And just overhead, a downy woodpecker hammered a euphonious beat on a nearby tree.

A curious raven got the osprey's attention, but flew away after its calls failed to bring any reinforcements.

A crow took the next crack at the osprey, to little effect.

The spider (likely a wolf spider) was carrying its babies on its back (focus on the babies).

Same spider with focus on its head.

This one was still waiting for its egg sac to hatch.

No eggs, no babies.

Ladybird Beetle on Wild Radish

This inch-long caterpillar was on Salvia spathacea at Middle Lake.

* * *