One of today’s interesting developments

I’ve been waiting a couple of weeks to see if my favorite couple returns to their traditional nest. So I was excited today to see a female on the nest. I thought they’d returned.

But tonight, carefully examining the photos of the female today with one of the best shots from last season, I realize that these clearly are not the same bird.

Here she is from last year:

And this is the one I caught today:

Their necklaces of dark spots are very different.

Which brings up the question: Is this a new young female who has just decided to  appropriate this nest, since it’s obviously been left empty? Apparently so. And what happens when and if the original couple shows up?

I think I know.  I’ve followed these two for more than a couple of years. And they don’t take kindly to strangers, or interlopers.

The drama continues.