KristenM
Description
Port Royal Plaza Parking Lot on 278 . Nest is on light fixture in middle of parking lot, diagonally across from Planet Fitness. The monitors have named the pair Sammie and Sam.
2 Monitoring Group Affiliations
2026 Season Data
Nest Status
active
Clutch Status
incubating
Young Status
unknown
Clutch history milestones
February 24, 2026
unknown
April 5, 2026
Brood history milestones
unknown
unknown
unknown
0
Activity log
| Date | Watcher | Adults | Eggs | Young | Observations | Photo | Edit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 6 | HHI Osprey Watch | 0 | N | N | |||
| Note: | Joanne V reports: No nesting material is currently visible, but that is typical for this nest pre-season. | ||||||
| February 11 | HHI Osprey Watch | 0 | N | N | |||
| Note: | Sheila B reports there is no activity as yet. Note: the nest requires a major rebuild from last season. That is typical for this nest. | ||||||
| February 14 | HHI Osprey Watch | 0 | N | N | |||
| Note: | Sheila B reports: Feb 14, 1:30 PM - Nest pole remains empty of any nest materials. No adult osprey seen or heard. Area was busy with black and turkey vultures. Parking lot around nest is currently under renovation for a grocery store moving into the building. Nearly all the trees in the parking lot have been cut down. I wonder how the loss of trees and increased human activity of a store will impact Sam and Sammie’s nest. | ||||||
| February 17 | HHI Osprey Watch | 0 | N | N | |||
| Note: | Sheila B reports: Feb. 17, 12:20 PM – Tree cutting equipment in parting lot, all remaining marked trees are cut and lying on the ground. Looks like only two live oaks will remain. There is no bird activity of any sort except for a pair of hooded mergansers in the pond. | ||||||
| February 24 | HHI Osprey Watch | 1 | N | N |
|
||
| Note: | Sheila B reports: Feb 24, 3:20 - 3:45 PM – Arrived in the parking lot to find a male osprey standing on nest light fixture eating. It was easy to ID as male since there were only a few dark spots on the chest area). As he ate, he frequently paused to look around the nesting area. The male was still there eating the fish when I left at 3:45. | ||||||
| February 28 | HHI Osprey Watch | 2 | N | N |
|
||
| Note: | Sheila B reports: Feb 24, 10:17 – 11:25 AM: When I arrived, two adults (male and female) were both standing on the light fixture actively watching around the nest. There were a couple of sticks already in place (nest must be rebuilt totally from scratch). Both of the osprey started chirping loudly while looking into the sky. Above them was another osprey circling directly above the nest site. They continued loud warning calls for a short time and the other osprey flew off. Sam left the nest and brought back several sticks – one immediately fell to the ground but the other two stayed up. Sammie remained on the nest light the entire time. Sam flew off and shortly after Sammie flew away also. Almost immediately a crow came to poke around in the sticks and it knocked one small one off. Both osprey were still gone when I left at 11:25. NOTE: Last year Sam and Sammie didn’t start building their nest until March 18 so they are starting almost 3 weeks earlier this year. Also, the whole parking area where the nest light is located is now completely cordoned off to keep cars/people out for upcoming work that will be done for the grocery store moving in. I am hoping the increased human activity and loss of nearby trees will not stop Sam and Sammie. | ||||||
| March 5 | HHI Osprey Watch | 2 | N | N |
|
||
| Note: | Sheila B reports: March 4, 9:50 AM – There is more nesting material on the platform. Both Sam and Sammie on the platform looking around the area. They were both quietly calling periodically and looking around. 3:22 Sammie standing on the nesting platform looking around. A friend came by and told me he had seen a third osprey harassing Sam and Sammie earlier in the day. They both chased the intruder away. He also observed Sam and Sammie mating. March 5, 10:40 AM – Construction work is going on in the parking lot near the nest but it does not appear to be influencing nesting activities. More nesting material had been added since yesterday. Sammie standing on the nest looking around. Sam soaring around the area and Sammie gives some quiet calls while watching him fly. Sam continues to circle very high then flies down to the nest and they mate. Sam leaves the nest and perches in one of the pines next to the Goodwill pond. He was still there and Sammie was on the nest when I left. | ||||||
| March 15 | HHI Osprey Watch | 2 | N | N |
|
||
| Note: | Sheila B reports: Sammie standing in nest, lots of rapid calls and actively looking around the nest area. Male osprey flew into nest area but Sammie flapped her wings stopping him from landing. He went to neighboring tree and perched for several minutes. Sammie continues calling and looking at perched osprey male then around the area. Perched male flies back to nest and both ospreys flapping wings in agitation. Male lands at one side of nest with head down in submissive position. After a few minutes Sammie starts to flap wings, call loudly and move toward male (intruder) aggressively. She continues calling and flapping her wings until male intruder leaves the nest and returns to perch in nearby tree. Sammie continues calling and looking around area. Intruder flies toward nest again and second male osprey arrives making loud warning calls. Males circle nesting area until one finally flies away. Remaining male goes to nearby tree to perch. Sammie continues with soft, lest frequent calls. There were a couple more incidents with a second male showing up but is driven off the nest by Sammie. When I left, one male is perched in a nearby tree and Sammie is standing in nest | ||||||
| March 16 | HHI Osprey Watch | 2 | N | N |
|
||
| Note: | Sheila B reports: Sammie standing in the nest chirping. Male flies in and Sammie speeds up calling but it was not loud. Male makes loud slow-paced calls (warning?). A second male osprey flies into the area but does not approach nest. First male osprey flies toward second male osprey then the second osprey leaves the area. First male returns to the nest and Sammie continues quiet chirping. Male leaves the nest to perch on a branch in pine by the Goodwill store (this was one of Sam’s favorite perches during last season). About ten minutes later, Sammie perches on an adjacent branch and continues chirping quietly. Sammie shifts and stands with her back flat and head down while continuing quiet chirps (it looks like she is solicitating mating). Male does not respond but keeps actively scanning the sky. They were still in the tree when I left. | ||||||
| March 23 | HHI Osprey Watch | 2 | N | N |
|
||
| Note: | Sheila B reports: Sammie standing in nest calling. Sam flew in with a fish and Sammie takes it to a nearby pine to eat. There are lots of crows that are harassing her but she shoos them away with her wings. Sam stays at the nest arranging sticks and trying out the bowl. He appears to be shoving the nest material out to the sides to create a better nest bowl. While I was watching Sammie, Sam left the nest. Sammie was still eating her fish when I left. | ||||||
| March 29 | HHI Osprey Watch | 2 | N | N |
|
||
| Note: | Sheila B reports: Sammie flies slowly against the wind and lands in nest. Sam arrives soon after with nesting and works on nest arrangement. Both watch the sky. Sam exits to nearby pine tree. Sammie still working in the nest. Sam is sitting down low in the nest and Sam chases a grackle away from the nest. 12:54 PM - Sammie still low and flat-backed in the nest. 1:15 Sammie took short flight around the nest area. She was followed closely by a grackle until she got back to the nest then it flew away. Sammie started digging and aerating the nest then settled back in even lower than before. When I left at 1:22, Sammie was still in the same low position in the nest. | ||||||
| April 5 | HHI Osprey Watch | 2 | U | N | incubation | ||
| Note: | Joanne V reports: Watched this nest for about an hour. Sammie remained flat backed in the nest the entire time. She appears to be incubating. Sam flew in and out about 3 times during the observation. NOTE: incubation is declared effective 4-5-26 | ||||||
| April 8 | HHI Osprey Watch | 1 | U | N | incubation | ||
| Note: | Sheila B reports: April 7, 12:30 PM: one osprey sitting low and quiet in the nest (incubating posture). Osprey repositions with some motions that could be digiing in the nest bowl. A few quiet chirps but no sign of a second osprey. April 8, 9:45 AM: Sammie standing in the nest chirping and looking around area. Lots of fish crows and boat-tailed grackles in two trees – both groups being very noisy/. One crow did a fly-by of the nest but Sammie did not move. She kept calling and looking around nest area. No sign of Sam. It is very windy and the nest light pole is rocking in the wind. | ||||||
| April 9 | HHI Osprey Watch | 2 | U | N | incubation |
|
|
| Note: | Sheila B reports: Sammie very low in the nest - can only see the top of her head and tail feathers. Sam is in nearby pine watching over the nest area. | ||||||
| April 9 | HHI Osprey Watch | 2 | U | N | |||
| Note: | Sheila B reports: One adult flying near nest being harassed by a grackle. Osprey chases grackle away. Second adult osprey flies into nesting area and they start flying in circles with one osprey giving loud, sharp warning calls. Fish crow flies close to nest and Sammie’s head pops up above the edge of nest edge. She flies out and chased crow away then returns to nest. Meanwhile two other ospreys continue circling each other and they gradually fly out of the nesting area. Sammie settles back very low in nest (probably incubating). She gave a few short chirps. 4:45 Sammie still low in nest and no sign of Sam. 5:15 Sammie still in nest and no Sam. She gives a few chirps and a second osprey flies near the parking lot but keeps on going. A short while later, two adults circling each other show up in another location near the nest but do not interact with Sammie and leave area. Crows gather nearby in nearby tree. Sammie stays alert and frequently looks around the area and above while occasionally calling. Still no sign of Sam. | ||||||
| April 14 | HHI Osprey Watch | 2 | U | N | incubation |
|
|
| Note: | sheila B reports: 11:30 AM: Sammie low in the nest - can only see the top of her head and tail feathers. Sam is in nearby magnolia tree. 11:37 Sam arrives with a nice sized fish. Sammie takes fish to nearby pine to eat. Sam stays at nest but keeps calling and looking above and around nest area. Sammie returns to the nest with partially eaten fish. Both Sam and Sammie calling loudly and looking around the nest area. Second male osprey arrives and is seen circling the nest. (Intruder male has one dark feather in the middle of the tail and I am positive I have seen this osprey disrupting the nest at least one other time). Sam leaves the nest and flies right next to the intruder which positions Sam between the intruder and the nest. The competing males are at the height of the nest. Sammie flies out of the nest briefly. Sam and intruder continue flying close to one another, gaining height and before long they leave the nest area. Sammie returns to the nest and settles down into incubation position. 12:17 PM: Sammie still in incubating position and no sign of Sam or intruder male. | ||||||
| April 19 | HHI Osprey Watch | 2 | U | N | incubation |
|
|
| Note: | Sheila B reports: 9:35 Am – Sam standing in nest calling quietly and looking around nest area. There is a second male perched in a magnolia on the other side of the parking lot. There is no interaction between the two males. No sign of Sammie but Sam continues calling the entire time I am there. 1:30 PM I can see the tip of tail/wings and the top of the head and eyes of Sammie in the nest. Sammie is in the incubating position. Sammie frequently turns her head side to side and all is quiet. 1:30 Sam flies in and stands by Sammie for a short while. A crow zips by, Sam flies out and the crow pursues him. Sammie remains at the nest. She gets up and looks like she is either rolling an egg or aerating the nest. She settles back into incubating position. | ||||||
| April 21 | HHI Osprey Watch | 2 | U | N | incubation |
|
|
| Note: | Sheila B reports: 11:30 AM - Sammie very low in the nest and all is quiet in the nest area. She gave a few short calls, gets up and flies a very small circle around the nest then returns to shimmy down into incubating position. 5:40 PM – Sam standing in the nest and Sammie incubating. Only the top of Sammie’s head is visible. Sammie is calling quietly most of the time. Twice a grackle flew close over the nest but there was no interaction between the osprey and grackle. Sam and Sammie in the same positions when I left at 5:55 PM. | ||||||
This nest has 83 reference photos. View Photos
OspreyWatch is managed by The Center for Conservation Biology. The project was developed in an attempt to bring together a global community of observers to collect information for the common good. The project is unfunded and, as such, has been created and managed by unpaid staff and volunteers. Please help support the dedicated individuals who maintain the project.