It may feel like anything but a normal year, but at least the animal kingdom seems right on cue: The arrival of ospreys in the region is a sure sign of spring, as the fish-eating raptors return north from their winter migration.

In Stonington, a pair of ospreys has returned to a nesting platform in the Paffard Marsh off Route 1. Paffard Marsh Preserve is about 9.5 acres protected by the Avalonia Land Conservancy.

And in East Lyme on Tuesday, town resident Rick Anselmo was watching ospreys and taking pictures of the birds in the wetland area along Bride Brook at Rocky Neck State Park. He'd picked up photography as a hobby when he retired a couple of years ago.

He said he was at the park because he knew the ospreys were back and also wanted to take a hike on the trails.