The Osprey nest at Chamber's Bay south of Tacoma was occupied today. ?No eggs yet but Mom (presumably) was busy grooming her nest with dried grass. ?She would occasionally stop and screech loudly for no?apparent?reason. ?Her partner wasn't in sight. ?This couple fledged two chicks last season and the parents made quite a show of ferrying salmon almost as big as they are to the young birds?whose?screaming begging could be heard for blocks. ? ?

The Chamber's Bay site is particularly interesting for several reasons. ?It's a short walk to the viewing area and is handicapped?accessible. ?The view is slightly down into the nest instead of looking up from ground level and while you can count feathers with a scope you can also get good views even with 8x binos like I use. ?With a scope and the patience, or luck, to catch mom taking a recess the eggs should be?visible. ?If anyone counts them I hope they will post the results. ?There are lots of other birds to watch but the Ospreys are clearly the star of this show. ??

Chamber's Bay Park is a great family park with a huge grass lawn, beach access, ponds, restrooms, and even a fenced in, off lease, dog park. ?So pack the kids and Fido and bring along the binos. ?They don't have to be expensive for the kids, and teach them to look for birds in a no stress?environmental. ?Google Chamber's Bay Golf Course and follow the directions from I-5. ?The park (Central Meadow) is not actually part of the golf course but is sort incorporated within it.?

?When you reach the upper parking lot you will be looking at a?restaurant?and the clubhouse for the golf course. ?Follow the road to the left of the tent like structure and go down the steep hill. ?Walk across the railroad overpass and go to the end of the observation area. The nest is on the south end (nearest?you) of the abandoned pier as you look north toward the narrows bridge. ?It's on top of the end-most piling toward you. ?Of course you can finish scoping out the beach area but also check the ponds and later there will be swarms of Barn Swallows that nest in the industrial remains. ?

My point and shoot isn't up to the Osprey?challenge?so I'm interested in pictures from the nest as the season progresses.?

The log boom: ?Rather than head home in rush hour I went to check out the log boom. There weren't a lot of birds at nearly 7Pm but those that were there were interesting. There was a Pigeon Gilmout and a male and female Horned Grebe swimming in front of the boom. ?The male in breeding plumage. ?And 200 or so Bonopart's Gulls going to roost on the Western side of the logs. ?Maybe 30 DC Cormorants on the East side and Olympic gulls scattered around. ?

?

Ray Holden

Olympia, WA

Life is for the birds.