On September 22, 2026, in Southwest Florida, M15 and the new female both returned to his familiar eagle nest tree despite a steady rain. M15 checked the nest and moved several sticks, while the female later settled onto the veranda and spread her wet wings to dry. It was another small but meaningful step as activity begins to pick up around the nest ahead of the new bald eagle nesting season.
Follow the SWFL Eagle nest and join the community discussion. Video by: yoikofrog on YouTube. Live streaming experience provided by Dick Pritchett Real Estate.
M15 Checks the Nest During Heavy Rain
M15 arrived first while rain poured over the pasture. He landed on the veranda and remained there as the shower continued. Once conditions improved, M15 dropped into the nest for a closer inspection.
That is when he began moving sticks around. There was no big delivery of nesting material this time. Instead, M15 worked with sticks already inside the nest, shifting pieces around as he checked the structure.
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After finishing his brief nest work, he moved up to the cam housing and then into the upper branches of the tree. From there, M15 eventually flew northeast and disappeared from sight. The visit offered another encouraging sign that the nest is once again part of his regular routine.
New Female Takes Her Turn on the Veranda
M15 may have left, but the nest tree did not stay empty for long. Before the female arrived, what appeared to be a red-shouldered hawk briefly perched nearby. The hawk soon departed as the bald eagle approached.
The new female then landed on the veranda. Her visit was especially interesting because M15 was away at the time.
She appeared comfortable spending time at the nest tree on her own rather than simply following him there.
After sitting through the damp weather, she spread her wings wide in a striking heraldic pose. The posture allowed her wet feathers to dry before she eventually took off toward the northeast.
For those following M15 and the new female, seeing her return to this particular tree again adds another piece to a story that is still unfolding.
M15 Returns to Watch Over His Territory
M15 later returned for one more visit. This time, he landed high in the treetop, where he remained alert and looked across the surrounding territory.
He eventually departed toward the northwest. Nothing dramatic needed to happen. The importance of the day came from the pattern itself: M15 checked the nest, the female spent time at the tree independently, and M15 returned once again before the day was over. The nest is becoming busy again.
M15 and New Female Bring New Hope to the Nest
There is still plenty we do not know about what comes next. M15 has started moving nest material, but this time neither eagle was seen carrying a fresh stick into the nest. The female is visiting regularly, yet the coming weeks will reveal much more about how the relationship develops and how involved she becomes in nest preparation.
That uncertainty is part of what makes these early-season visits so special. For longtime followers of the Southwest Florida eagles, seeing M15 back at the nest tree with another female nearby brings a mixture of memories, hope and anticipation. A familiar place is becoming active again, one perch and one stick at a time.
The next milestone could be nest building.
If M15 and his new companion begin arriving with fresh branches and other nesting material, the pace around the tree could change quickly.
For now, September 22 gave us something simpler: two bald eagles returning to the same familiar tree on a rainy Florida day and showing increasing interest in the place that could become the center of another eagle season.
FAQ
Did M15 bring a new stick to the nest?
Not during this visit. M15 moved and rearranged sticks that were already in the nest, but no new stick delivery was observed in this update.
Did the new female visit the SWFL eagle nest?
Yes. The female landed on the veranda while M15 was away and spent time there before spreading her wings to dry her feathers.
Are M15 and the new female building the nest yet?
M15 has begun moving existing sticks, but this update did not show the pair actively bringing new nesting material to the nest. Their continued visits will be worth watching as the season approaches.