I saw my first one on March 17 - the earliest by about a week since I’ve been keeping track. A couple of weeks before that, the first pair of Oystercatchers showed up. Almost time to get the boat back in the water!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Oyster_catcher_by_Dan_Pancamo.jpg
I’ll take more of this!
Ours {NE FL} are year round residents. We’ve had a pair nesting on top of a light pole for 8 years now {will occ. see them in the offseason}, 5 chicks have made it fledgling status, at least two of which I likely saw in subsequent years (when they approached and even landed on the nest w/o the parents attacking either).
Now 4 miles away another pair has made a nest on top of a similar light pole; would bet sunfish to sardines that one of them is the offspring of our work pair.
Parked at the nest today to top off my larder-and parked next to a car with a UNF mascot (yes their school mascot is an osprey).
Underneath it simply said “Grandparent.”