A mallard checks out the food along the edge of a salt water marsh along the southeast Connecticut coast last week.

While I waited for the ospreys to return to their nest, this guy showed up instead.

A family of buffleheads floated by during a walk along the Connecticut coast last week. Nearby was a trio of mergansers as well (see earlier post).

Our latest visit to southeastern Connecticut resulted in a number of rewarding bird sightings. We have seen common loons several times over the past couple months in the Fishers Island Sound. Here is one in their winter plumage.

Once we disturbed the osprey standing on the nest (see previous post), we had about an hour wait to see if they would return. Our patience was rewarded. They both returned to survey the area around their nest. I am assuming my standing location about 20 yards away on the side of the nearby road was too obvious. They quipped and stared at me for a couple passes, and then headed over to the far side of the marsh to wait for me to depart. Reluctantly, I did

Our recent visit to the Connecticut coast was inspired by a report that ospreys had returned to this nest. The nest had disappeared over the winter and about a month ago, this platform was bare. When we visited it this past Thursday, it had two birds standing in it. By the time I crept up to about 30 yards away, one departed and I caught this one just before it departed also.

If things go as planned, we should have eggs and fledglings in due time.