I wanted to get some thoughts down this morning before I left for the nest. I am still amazed by the comments "Oh I was told Ozzie or Harriet or both leave for awhile during the summer". After a year of trying to tell people that they do not leave, I'm just about to give up. The ones that are telling you all that .. have NOT and I repeat have NOT spent the time to watch them during the summer months.  They themselves left on vacation the past two summers. It's very hard for me to believe the information from that source when they weren't around. So  I and a few other locals were hanging out at the nest last summer to see , "Do they go or do they stay"???  Now that song's stuck in your head too right ?! It was not making any sense to me that Ozzie and Harriet would leave . Why  would they go any where ? So  now with all that has happened this season with Ozzie and Harriet someone is actually spending the time to see if they leave or not. I truly feel that if Ozzie hadn't gotten injured and that  they are waiting on Ozzie's return like the rest of us, they wouldn't  be here today. The best part of all of this......will be the fact that "They " will prove those of us that did take the time to watch are right. So many other locals that stopped by the nest and told us/them that  live ( yes live because they are neighbourhoods not little pond area's ) in one of the spots that Ozzie and Harriet hang out and have seen them for years during the summer but they  were told they are wrong or just brushed off . One of the places  has a  resident pair of Eagles of their own on the Golf Course. I've always found it very interesting that other locals  contradicted  the information that we all were given.
But then again I am not a Biologist, or anything like that and neither are they . They are just like you and me , plain old  ordinary people  who watch  Ozzie & Harriet too .
Where is Ozzie you ask ? Well he didn't leave me any information on where he was going when he flew off, so I can't tell you. I  like the rest of you truly thought he would go straight to the nest. See this tells you how much we don't know . Just when one thinks they have them figured out , they change their behavior or routine.  Do I feel Ozzie is around? I do but I don't. I do because Harriet's behavior has changed some. I don't because there's not been one sighting since he has been home . NO where ! All the people out looking around and nothing.  If he is around ,he is doing some dam good hiding.
Has Harriet found him.... I think she might have. So why doesn't he come home? I can't tell you that... All I can do is speculate like everyone else.   Remember ,I'm not an expert. I'm just giving my observations just like the others and they are not experts either. Just ordinary people like us still trying to understand our Ozzie and Harriet . So when you read this or their post , remember all that is written is just an "OPINION"  an "OBSERVATION" with some facts thrown in. Like the News media .
Well back from the nest early today. I arrived at the nest at 5:30 am . No one in the nest tree. I do not go to the Pritchett driveway at this time of the morning so I don't know for sure if Harriet  and PB were in the front pines. It's very quiet this morning, No vocals from anyone. I sit and watch for any kind of movement from the front pines and the nest area. Still nothing. Around 6:30 am I did see something leaving the west pasture treeline by McDonalds but can't be sure it was an Eagle. Had to go to the restroom .Publix wasn't open yet so went to McD's .Headed over to the pond after I got done and no one there either. Not in the Norfolk pines either. Now I'm wondering if they were home at all. I left to go home and didn't see anyone on the poles at Bob's. Hmmmm very interesting to say the least. The last report on Harriet was last night around 7:30 pm or so from Monika Wilson..."Harriet in attic at nest tree very vocal. She is looking in church direction again. Only Harriet is here nobody else except the horses she is really talking tonight. Have not heard her vocaleizing that much in a very long time"....
So now we wait and see what happens. In my heart of hearts I sure hope Harriet left last night to be with Ozzie . My Human emotions are running wild . My head tells me to keep calm and wait this out . It could be soon or it could take a while for all of us to get our answer.

You get a Fish ... I get a fish

I went to see Harriet and PB late this morning and went to the Publix pond and sure enough there they were. In separate tree's towards the back of the pond area like yesterday. No great Gator adventures  today ,I had back up  with me ...LOL Donna showed up not to long after I got there then Lucky, Packrat, Dash-Ted, Sandra and Ted Showed up .  So there gator you couldn't scare me anymore. LOL It wasn't even there today . Have no idea where is was but that's ok too.
Harriet and PB both did some fishing today and changing of tree's. Harriet would get a fish so PB would get a fish. They did this a couple of times and same with changing of the tree's. Harriet would go to the pine then the dead tree,then PB would do that after Harriet. I Had to laugh at the two of them. Just like a couple of kids playing monkey see monkey do. We had an Anhinga fly in and take a dip. PB then flies past the Anhinga to the tree just past it on our right. I'm thinking there just might be bird for lunch. PB sat there watching the Anhinga and it was watching PB. Finally PB flies over the Anhinga and keeps going . Whew that was close. The fish that Harriet and PB were catching were very small ones. I couldn't tell for sure if they caught a fish or not until they were on the banks of the pond and they were eating. Both Harriet and PB are molting right now and some of the flight feathers on both sides are missing but new ones are coming in. I could see the "shorter" ones already replacing the empty spots. Same with their tail feathers. PB still has that one with a bit of black on it thank goodness. Really not much happening. I just enjoy watching them. I left around 1:30 pm .

Harriet going in for the fish

Harriet and her small fish

Harriet cleaning her beak and getting a drink

Harriet

PB

A Relaxing Afternoon......

I haven't been going to the nest the past couple of days .Ive just been resting so today I decided to go after 12:00 pm . I thought I might run into  Ted . I went to the Publix pond first and to my delight , Harriet and PB were there but not Ted. So I get my camera set up. PB was  in the dead tree on the left of the pond and Harriet was in the pine on the right. Nice! I was really happy to see them. I told Harriet sorry for not being at the nest the past few days and you know ,she didn't say  anything...LOL
I also told her about Ozzie doing better and of Jim's passing. She did turn and look at me then. I'd like to think she understood me and was some how letting me know she will miss Jim too.
While standing there watching them I saw the gator. Oh gessh . It started swimming to a pallet that has been floating in the pond for awhile now. It laid it's big ol head and jaws on the pallet looking at me.   Oh Boy ! Now mind you , I'm not that close but I'm still close enough to make me uncomfortable.
Back to watching Harriet and PB with an eye on the  gator too. Harriet leaves the pine and flies across the pond to the other side. Looked like she might have tried to get a fish but missed it. Back to watching the gator which now has moved more in front of me and a bit closer. Harriet doesn't stay long on the ground and flies to a pine towards the back if you will... of the pond . Check the gator out again. Now I watch the gator. PB still in the same tree. The gator is swimming straight in front of me getting even closer. I  move back. And I move back some more. A Tri-Color Heron ..I think it is lands  to my right in the pond. Oh good  I'm thinking that will get the gators attention off of me. LOL
So while I'm watching the Gator watching me watching him, PB had flown across the pond and was on the ground to the right. Ok I  can do this, I watch PB , look for the gator , watch PB fly back across the pond into a tree closer to Harriet...Look for the gator. Ok the gator has moved to my right I hope he's checking out the Heron that went to the other side of the pond. Sorry I'd rather it be the Heron and not me for lunch.
I'm still watching Harriet and PB. Harriet is doing some preening and PB takes off to the dead tree he was in when I got there. The gator?! Well it has moved more to my right . Maybe will get some of the fish I saw jumping. Harriet still in the same tree. Oh and before I forget... It looks like Harriet has some flight feathers missing too on her wings. I can see new shorter ones coming in . About 3 of them on each side. Same as PB. So now it starts to sprinkle and I look  for the gator. OMG I don't see him!!! Oh holy shit batman! Now that scares the hell out of me. Time for me to go. I say goodby to Harriet and PB and get myself to the truck. As I take one last look , PB flies down to the pond and it looks like he got himself a fish. WTG PB.

Harriet

PB

Harriet

Harriet

PB

PB left, Harriet right