Some Osprey shots. Bald Eagle added.

[bluesbassman]

Last edited Mon Dec 26, 2011, 06:18 PM - Edit history (1)

Took these at Huntington Lake (east of Fresno, CA).

I forgot about the shot with the Bald Eagle. We were out on a boat, and these two were fighting virtually right over our heads. In my excitement to get some shots, I didn't readjust my settings and most of the shots came out over exposed. I did get this one though.

[Angry Dragon]

1. The second picture looks like they caught lunch

[bluesbassman]

4. Sure did!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear bluesbassman!

Oh, nice! It's really difficult to capture anything in flight...and have it be in focus as well.

These are great.

I especially love the second one...those wings are magnificent!

Thanks for sharing!

[bluesbassman]

5. Thanks Peggy.

Just takes practice to get the timing down.

Glad you liked them.

[bluesbassman]

6. How cool that you have them so close.

That's a cool trick with the iPhone. Those darn things do everthing!

[BobbyBoring]

7. Great shots

Last edited Tue Dec 27, 2011, 01:08 PM - Edit history (1)

Thanks for posting them. The ospreys one of nature's greatest predators.I found an injured when one day along the side of a highway. I always knew they were big, but you have no idea how big until you're feet away from them. I'm not sure what happened, but my guess is he was diving on a land animal and misjudged something. I waited with him natural resources came along and took him to rehab.

Hopefully, he went back to hunting fish.


Edited to correct Dragon Naturally Speaking, a really cool thing!

[bluesbassman]

8. Thank you. I added a shot that I forgot about with a Bald Eagle.

It turned out ok, but it does give you an idea of how big these birds are.

Osprey are facinating in that they're adapted for fishing. Their talons are actually two on a side so that the completely grip the fish. Also, they carry it head first to minimize drag. I too hope the one you helped rescue made it, I really love birds of prey.

[Kevin Cloyd]

10. Great photos!

Great photos!

A couple of years ago I saw a peregrine falcon attempt to rob an osprey of his freshly caught bluegill. It was a nice sized bluegill, maybe 8” long and the falcon would come in from behind the osprey, do a barrel roll and while inverted try to grab the fish away from the osprey. The osprey did an excellent job of timing a strong downward thrust of his wings as he tucked the fish as close to his body as possible as the falcon tried to grab the fish.

The falcon made five passes at the osprey before the pair went out of sight beyond the trees at the edge of Lotz lake, Wabash County, Indiana, with the bluegill still in clenched in the osprey’s talons.

I wish I had a camera with me that day but the hazy sky would probably have resulted in silhouette photos of the birds against the much brighter sky, especially since the light was coming from in front of me instead of from behind.

[freshwest]

11. Wonderful pictures from you, as always!