Just over six weeks ago I spent some time photographing a mated pair of Ospreys at Flaming Gorge in northeast Utah. At the time they were incubating eggs and they alternated time on the nest. When one of the birds was incubating the other one spent most of its time hunting, eating and preening.
This is the male (smaller than the female with a less distinct breast band or “necklace”). After a successful fishing expedition he would hand on a far away perch and consume part of the fish and then sometimes bring what was left of the meal to a perch closer to the nest to finish it off.
These four images are a series as the male came in close with a trout.
The shape and position of the wing in this image somehow caused a double shadow effect on the side of the breast that to my eye almost looks like it was caused by sloppy processing, which isn’t the case. All I did to any of these images was minor exposure adjustment, crop and sharpen.
In most of these shots you can see the bulge of the crop caused by the consumption of part of the fish just a few minutes before.
The first three shots in this series were sequential in a burst but this one is seven frames after the previous image so the bird is almost past me but I liked the banking position of the wings and the good look at what’s left of the fish.
I realize that some may be put off by the graphic nature of the bloody and headless trout but that comes with the territory when you’re a fish-eating raptor.
Or a bird photographer…
Ron
Sensational as usual Ron They are just amazing shots! I have been told that the osprey take the heads off the fish to keep them from struggling to get away. Makes sense. Can’t move without a head. I have also seen many other birds gather around an osprey waiting for it to leave the head. Thanks so much for sharing!
Charlotte
Amazing photos. Still smiling at the concept of ‘look, only one hand!!!’ Thank you.
In fact Ron
Do you have a topside to send me privately, I’d be curious to see it. It could prove telling as to specific age or might even reveal something else…
I’ll see what I’ve got of the topside of this bird and send it along if I can find anything helpful, Jerry.
Ron, these are gorgeous pictures, but what interests me MOST is that this adult Osprey appears extremely “clean” or lacking multiple generations of flight feathers!!!!! This is rare in adult Ospreys especially, when compared to other large birds. They almost always show old and new feathers alongside each other and often more than 2 generations of feathers or waves of molt. The bird’s feathers are worn evenly as well along the back edge of the wing, supporting this. Higher res images or topsides would help to see more detail, but not significant enough to bother. And it is possible one of those inner secondaries is a different age but tough to tell for sure and possibly not.
Hope you find this interesting,
Jerry
I sure do “find it interesting”, Jerry. You’ve got me looking much more carefully at these flight feathers.
I am fascinated by the fact that this bird is carrying the fish with one foot only. I’ve seen one once, flying with a fish, not close enough to determine if it used one foot or two to carry it, but I always assumed carrying a fish would take both feet. Live and learn! Thanks for a really nice series of photos. And the bloody fish is just part of a raptor’s life, not off-putting at all.
They often use both feet, Susan. Perhaps this bird was just showing off… 🙂
Or a fish and meat eating human like me.
Your photos are so clear I know it’s the male with little”necklace”.
Thanks for my bird fix for today.
Happy Fourth.
I’m glad you enjoyed the daily “fix”, Diana. Happy Fourth to you, too.
Nice shots Ron. I’ve watched many Osprey catch and eat fish, and they always begin eating at the fish’s mouth.
I’ve noticed the same thing, John.
WOW! Great shots…interesting info. Especially liked simplicity of right wing in frames ! and 3 in contrast to full-feather wing views in other frames. You even caught the light in such a way that it highlights the racis (spelling?), the spine, of the flight feaathers…
Thank you, Patty. I like those wing positions, too.
Wonderful Sequence Ron !
Thanks, John.
My little girl and I spent a few hours fishing at Tropic Reservoir Saturday, and watched a mated pair of osprey. We watched them hunting and tending to their young in the nest. Osprey have always fascinated me. I’ve often wondered if their habit of calling out after a successful catch is a warning to others to leave them alone, or just bragging like any other fisherman. I took several pictures, but they don’t hold a candle to these. Beautiful and dramatic shots, Ron.
Thanks, Budd. Sounds like both you and your daughter thoroughly enjoyed watching those birds. That’s great!
Excellent job Ron, beautiful images of a awesome bird!
Thanks very much, Dick.