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Welcome to “Season Three” of our osprey cam! Get ready for another exciting season of osprey viewing at the Waquoit Bay Reserve, brought to you by the Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge
If you’d like to show your appreciation for the nest cam, please Support the Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge! As a nonprofit volunteer organization, we support a wide variety of education, research and stewardship projects within the Mashpee Refuge to ensure the long-term protection and enhancement of native wildlife and habitats.
Thank you in advance!
We are thrilled to offer this live stream of an active pair of Osprey at their nest at Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. The pair are appropriately named Rachel and Carson, after the famed environmentalist.
This opportunity for a bird’s eye view of a beloved bird’s habitat is the result of a collaboration between The Friends of Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge, which helped plan and locate the site for this unique “nest cam,” the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, one of the Refuge partners, and Comcast, which generously provided the equipment, installation and broadband connectivity to power this viewing experience.
One of our goals as a community-based nonprofit is to give the public opportunities to enjoy and interact with nature and wildlife. Thanks to Comcast, the live streaming of this osprey nest will broaden our reach to all of Cape Cod and beyond. We are grateful for the opportunity to use the live nest cam for observation, research and education purposes.
View highlights from 2024 (“Season Three”)
View highlights from 2023 (“Season Two”)
View highlights from last year (“Season One”) – mating, egg laying and hatching, feeding and more!
Please feel free to comment below with your observations or any questions you may have. We welcome your comments and questions! If you’d like to see a list of questions other viewers have asked, please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ospreys and the Nest Cam. You may also want to read this article to learn more about ospreys on Cape Cod.
Please note that first-time posters must be approved before comments are displayed, and allow up to 24 hours before your initial post can be seen by others.
Sorry the feed went offline sometime last night. Our streaming provider is looking into it and we hope to have the view back as soon as possible!
Thank you!
We’re back online! Happy viewing!
Thank you so much for all your hard work and informative posts – what a wonderful way to learn and be part of this wildlife family! Greatly appreciative.
It appears mom is feeding Charlie, I think he still likes to be babied🥴
15:39 And here’s another fish delivery! No one should go away hungry now. 🙂
14:50 Is that a fish that one of the osplets is eating? Weird looking white-ish lump!
Yes, Carson dropped that fish off about 30-45 minutes ago.
Charlie latched onto the fish, but it was quickly taken away (after a bird fight) buy the chick that is eating it.
Its a pretty good size fish.
I hope somebody saw it arrive and can ID it.
I saw it arrive, but I have no clue what type of fish it is. It was probably 45 minutes ago.
Maybe Glenn can look.
I know Florida fish pretty well, but am at a loss for IDing fish in New England waters.
I’d guess it’s a scup, but hard to tell for sure.
A white flounder maybe?
Flounders are usually bottom fish.
I was thinking that also, but I’ve also read that flounder are part of an osprey’s diet. Waquoit Bay is very shallow in some areas and osprey can dive up to 3 feet underwater See this link for one example:
https://www.onthewingphotography.com/wings/2013/11/30/an-osprey-just-floundering-around/
15:28 The fish is stolen by a sibling after a small skirmish.
2 chicks in the nest, both have their own fish.
the question is who are they? I think A & B.
Where are the chicks???
Empty nest this morning. We’ll be seeing a lot more of this as the fledglings work on their flying skills and learn to fish on their own. But don’t worry, they won’t leave for the season until September.
Where do they go after September?
Great question, Bill. I wish we knew for sure where “our” bird family will overwinter, but typically ospreys from this area migrate to either Central or South America. We hope to see Rachel and Carson back in the spring. The juveniles will spend an extra year down south before returning.
Sorry, I’m not sure why it didn’t go through. I don’t approve individual comments (if I did, it would be a full-time job!), but maybe I accidentally blocked it. No need to apologize, and should be good now.
Watch 2 ospreys beginning fledging at same time at Gloucester ECGB EarthCam web cam, https://ecga.org/Osprey-Cam. Choose 24 hour stream, July 30, 5:01 PM. Since it is the past 24 hrs, only available until 4:01 PM July 31.
10:09pm Saturday Is that the visitor on the right on the perch with his head down?
Sibling rivalry with the three chicks? Glad to see the youngest express himself with the visitor.
7/30 6:45 pm empty nest. Charlie took off. For a brief flight. Then C and D(?) returned
I just turned in to see one of the birds attaching another. Looks like it has been happening for awhile today. That poor chick won’t raise its head up, and is hunched over.
Chick is still hunched over at 5:16. I wonder if it is just lying low or if it was injured?
Might actually be Charlie hitting Delta from 1600-1605…maybe not time to share anymore? Alpha or Bravo sitting on the sideline…Either way D or C, one is keeping low
Really looking like Charlie wants the other out, my best guess it is Delta. Makes sense, when the crops get empty, guests aren’t as welcome.
the more I watch, the more I think Charlie wants Delta out and Bravo is sitting sideline, tho C/B do get along in most encounters and chat with one another..will look later! Hoping others will continue to see and post!
yes! looks like they are practicing mating! lol
I would like to start calling A, B, if you know what I mean!
A is still picking on c. He ducks his head down when she does. Heartbreaking.
Yes, it is so sad to watch. I’m rooting for C to fly out of the nest to get away from A. I can only think that A is trying to get C to fly for C’s own good. Or else A is a nasty sibling.
The Gloucester nest has three chicks living in peace. No bullies there.
Same can be said for the Oxford nest.
13:36 C has been on the nest alone for a good amount of time. A shows up and for the next nine minutes pummels C. Trying to push C off the nest, 5 times A gives C the talons to the back and upper wings. Glenn you should post some of this as apparently non of the regulars are watching.
The whole thing started as I state above. Prior to C being alone on the nest C & B were hanging out peacefully as they always do. B was gone for a long time before the 13:36 invasion of A.
I think you’ve got it backwards. I agree that it was C (or maybe B) on the nest alone at 13:36 yesterday, but it was definitely the lone bird who became the aggressor when the second bird returned. The returning bird is the one keeping its head down and succeeds in not being pushed off the nest. This continues for more than 2 hours, even after a third bird comes in to the picture. None of the 3 birds were Delta I think. This is all much too long to post (sorry).
Thanks for looking into it Glenn! Sigh…if only they would all get along. Their veiwers would be much happier!
Ok point taken……I agree D was not involved but for my own sanity just show us the arrival and one aggressive move T Y!!!!
Here’s an entire 15-minute sequence from that time span:
http://delmar.hdontap.com/comcast_osprey-cam_fixed/comcast_osprey-cam_fixed.stream_2022-07-25-23.55.57.251-PDT_426.mp4
I’m trying not to exert too much editorial bias, but I’m hesitant to put too much emphasis on the bad stuff in the “highlights.” I hope people understand and agree.
Thank You Glenn and my apologies to all. All of the behavior we have this wonderful opportunity to observe should be on display. This is a look at wild natural interactions happy or sad……
Is that Charlie holding down the fort? Thanks for sharing the pic Hannah!
As you could imagine, our juveniles need some time to get used to flying… Especially with such a large wingspan! I caught one of the fledglings not quite stick the landing on a tree nearby the nest… don’t worry, they are okay now!
This is an amazing shot. How did you get it?
6:50 fish delivered by Carson and promptly snatched by one chick. The other two are interested, watching and waiting.
yikes carson just literally dropped off a fish and left. the fish is intact at 4:45pm and it is still alive, but not for long.
Carson did that yesterday, his feet barely hit the nest, dropped the fish and was gone.
Better time to see fish, cloud cover came in about the same time…and the little ones need to learn to “break up” dinner..the operculum always seems to be a tough one for them at first(the big sheet over the gills)not a lot of caloric plus there, but the gills are…
I am not familiar with this area, where are they getting such an abundance of fish? Also has Charlie left the nest yet, seems his buddy is trying to coax him to fly around 😊
The nest is surrounded by water. The fish brought are salt water species so coming from the bay or the Childs River. C does a lot of short flights but has not left the nest for any length of time that I know of.
Thanks
Here’s a map of the surrounding area. The red marker is where the nest is. GPS coordinates are: 41.5620765,-70.5269659
bill mckay… the biggest herring run in the area is the Mshpee River, about a straight lne 3 miles feast of the nest. Herring have slowed down now but for a while, huge schools had pooled up around a quarter miles upriver, where the river shallowed and they were easy pickings. There often were 5 or 6 birds fishing for most of the day. Some flew north to the Roche Bros. poarkng lot (terrible place to live, eh?) some flew west (maybe to Webner) and others flew south towards New Seabury (there re other nests down there. The other varieties of fish are all over the bays and inlets.
Thank you, I was wondering how close to the water they were seeing as the nest is inland and not at the water. So it seems like good pickings where they are 🐟
Marie, this nest is not inland. The ocean is nearby.
Yes, I meant the couple of nests I have seen around the cape are posts in the water (marshlands)
Delta and Charlie in the nest. Note the dark coloration back of Deltas head, which the original 3 don’t have.
Yeah what I seem to see is Alpha and Bravo both have 2 kinda dark splotches on top back of head that lead together and a large buff area at the nape (plus are big), Charlie’s has the dark on top, but is kinda bald where the buff patch is (likely from siblings…and he is small, and a straight on look is definitely “Charlie look” almost cross eyed to me..lol)). Delta looks like a bigger Charlie to me, and the dark splotch on the head is more of a line going to a spot (his personality seems differnt…as is his…aim…lol)
I’m sorry but if D is on the nest with C A or B arrived a few mins ago sitting right in front of the cam with plenty of dark on the back of it’s head…….
Not the same pattern with black line down center back of head that Delta has.
Exactly. It’s more of a line at the top leading to a splotch vs two splotches that are connected. Not my most scientific moment, but a quick observational biologist moment…lol
And all of this will change too…lol
At least they aren’t wearing T-shirts like in Oxford…lol Check it out today, there is a face on the T you can see now…they will collect anything they can grab that looks good for the home.
I think Charlie has found a friend, at last, in Delta.
A lot is by coloration on back of head, and Charlie’s head size.
C is D
D is C
A is B
B is A
All the BIG juvies allowing mom to feed # 3 AWESOME!!!!
Charlie is liking lunch today for sure!
D is C, B is D, A is A, and C is B based on what I’ve seen over the past 2 hours
great minds think alike.!!!!
I’m not sure about a great mind here but I watched B & C sit there for a long time. First A showed closely followed by D and mom with fish. Maybe those two knew she was coming. Anyhoo…..I think we are correct,
I think from the back or looking at the neck 3 of them are indistinguishable. # 3 is obvious due to size. I think (could be wrong) the best way is the patterns on their chests. I so far can’t tell 1 & 2 apart this way cause I cannot do stills or screen shots. I can only tell 1 & 2 apart by aggressive behavior on the part of 1. I do think 4 is identifiable by the incredibly full/complete bib it is sporting. Whada Ya Think??
I just took a guess. I could not pick them out of a line up if I tried!
Based on what I always “look” for, I agree too, even in the snap shot. I have the feed running when I am working and glance a bunch when I can, but even so miss a bunch. Then watch all in the eve and off times…lol Really became quite the osprey addict this year!
5 for lunch…. One fish… should be interesting
I love games… my pick is
D is C
C is B
A is A
B is D
nope just had a visitor now 5
4 in the nest, one fish, one eating
12:22 Who I presume to be # 2 just pooped on the nest. Never seen that before……
Maybe it was Delta?
I saw that yesterday too, and almost hit another young bird that didn’t look impressed at the others aim….lol
Yes, if Delta grew up in a chimney, he probably did not learn to poop out of the edge of the nest. And I’m sure, by now, that must be a very smelly, hot nest. Lol.:)
10:32 AM All these recent posts about fish…….these two juvies on the nest need to go learn fishing…..long flight to winter grounds and it’s coming soon…….
who is on the nest now, b & c?
Based on activity over the past week I would agree with that. B & C seem to take very short flights.
13:16 D is back
Night night….
16:43 an uneaten unclaimed fish on the nest…..never thought I’d see that again here.
Now that I got a good view of a whole fish, these are menhaden. Also known as bunker or porgy.
I have watched a few videos from this person on our local fishing (love the underwater shots). He has one on menhaden (pogy / bunker to some fishers) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhprcLcGGBs&t=2s
I think opera singers would be good background music … lol
I just watched that video you posted, the fish on the video looks like the same fish I saw dropped off yesterday. Thanks
sorry you did not post the video.
Tania did.
Did he bring back a fish? I missed it, if Carson or Rachel dropped it off.. looks like Charlie to me
I saw mom bring back the fish Joanne Moser refered to. The larger of these two juvies ate the hole thing. Mom tried to take it away half eaten but nothing doing. # 3 got the scraps of it with Mom off the nest. I’m sure an adult brought this latest fish in but I did not see.
When I posted one of the birds eating today and not sharing I was not sure who was feasting on the fish or where it came from
There were two others trying to get a bite but were unsuccessful
Then maybe 45 minutes to an hour later I think it was Carson who barely touched down on the nest and dropped off a big fish
At that point I think it was Charlie who took over and started eating
JM
# 3 been capable of this for quite a while. Never seems to get the chance. Now to just get past the head and get to the good stuff.
Not sure who has the fish…but they are not sharing.
Here’s a great site which documents the migrations and behaviors of a number of tracked ospreys from 2000 to 2018, by researcher Rob Bierregaard: https://www.ospreytrax.com/OspreyMainPage.html
Fascinating information, and often shows that Ospreys don’t always follow the norm and atypical (and in some cases, unexplained) behavior seems to be somewhat common.
Rob Bierregaard and ospreytrax are The source for East Coast osprey migration data. I remember reading about a female taking an over the ocean route south logging about 2200 miles of flight.
Another osprey program that collaborated with Bierregaard in 2013-2014 . Program is run by Essex County Greenbelt Association, located in Essex County, North shore of Massachusetts. They have an active EarthCam web cam and informative web site, https://ecga.org/osprey. Great photos also!
Thank you. Great they are banding.