关于LZM 22页 numbers of 的讨论

LZM 同学，在其书22页第9行，写到 【numbers of +可数名词 的修饰必错】。 还必错，绝倒。

709.The Coast Guard recently redesigned channel markers in the Chesapeake Bay to accommodate large numbers of ospreys, whose huge nests formerly obstructed the lights.

(A) numbers of ospreys, whose huge nests

(B) numbers of ospreys, their huge nests

(C) amounts of ospreys, the huge nests of which

(D) nests of ospreys they

(E) numbers of ospreys, and their huge nests

当然还有很多 numbers+可数名词 的用法。不过我的问题是：

1）numbers of 只能加可数名词吗？！应该是吧

2）numbers of vs. a number of 有什么区别吗？

望指教！