[EBB Sightings] 3 Ospreys at Pt Pinole RS

Short version:  3 OSPREYS, Cook's Point, Pt Pinole RS.

Long version:
I was out at Pt Pinole Regional Shoreline this morning and decided to walk 
out to Cook's Point.  Mainly, I was looking to see if there were still any 
bluebirds in the area, but failed to find any.  Other cavity nesters do 
nest here, somehow, despite the eucalyptus monoculture.

An OSPREY was sitting on one of the pilings at the point.  I decided to sit 
down, listening to Tree Swallows chattering behind me, and wait for the 
bird to fly to try to determine the direction of the nest.  The Osprey 
occasionally groomed and glanced into the water below him, but never 
moved.  A light sunburn, 10 Black-bellied Plovers, and 15 Semi-palmated 
Plovers (don't these guys breed?) later, a second Osprey landed on the 
second piling and proceeded to pick at something around his toes on the 
piling, occasionally glancing into the water below him.

About the time that I decided that these two were the dumbest fishers in 
the Osprey world, a splash out in the Bay caught my eye.  Yes, a third 
Osprey was fishing in the Bay.  Eventually Osprey #2 finished picking his 
toes and wheeled off towards the Pier over the Bay, passing quite close and 
giving me excellent views.  After I'd watched them about an hour, I decided 
they weren't going to do anything particularly exciting and moved on.  When 
I left, Ospreys #2 and 3 were dots over the Bay, and Osprey #1 was still 
super-glued to his piling, watching the tide go out.

I could see the first Osprey fairly well on his piling, and he *looked* 
like an adult to me.  Osprey 2 passed quite close and also looked like an 
adult, all pale below and dark (not mottled) above.  Although I didn't get 
a good look at Osprey 3, the fact that it was the only one actively seen 
fishing seems to indicate that it was an adult.  So, what gives?  It seems 
too early for this year's fledglings to look like adults.  My books 
indicate that immature birds stay on their wintering grounds for a couple 
years, so it seems unlikely to be a chick from a past year (I rarely see 
Osprey in the winter along San Pablo Bay).  So, were these 3 adults or must 
one have been a chick?

Other birds seen included Ash-throated Flycatcher, Pacific-slope 
Flycatcher, and Bewick's Wren.  Lots of fledglings around: juncos, 
chickadees, house finches, American goldfinches, California towhees, and 
tree swallows.

Good birding,
--
Laura Look
Pinole, CA