Tag Archives: Osprey

Osprey

August 29, 2022 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

I finally spotted the Osprey that had been calling, plaintively, for several minutes. By the time I raised my camera he had ducked down. The nest alone made an artsy silhouette on this grey day.

The Osprey is probably a juvenile, calling for a parent and hoping to get fed from the sound. An hour or so later he flew some laps around the area, and paused in this tree.

Then the sun came out and I saw the nest from a different angle, well placed in swamp.

August 26, 2022
Cypress Gardens, Moncks Corner, SC

Raptor

Osprey in a Pine

June 5, 2022 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

Kiawah River, SC
June 1, 2022

Raptor

Fancy Nest Topper, Another Angle

May 19, 2022 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

It was the shape of the tree that caught my eye, from a few posts ago. Turns out, working through my images from that day I had some other shots.

Osprey Nest in Artsy Tree — Osprey Nest– looking like a straw hat, Osprey head just visible

Here’s a wider view.

There were several Osprey flying around.

This one was watching the water but I never saw him dive.

Orlando Wetlands, Florida
April 12, 2022

Artsy

Fancy Nest Topper

May 13, 2022 Ellen Jennings 1 Comment

It was the shape of the tree that caught my eye, reminding me of a carved finial. The Osprey nest that looks like a straw hat was secondary. It was early and not much light, but there is an Osprey in the nest, the white on its head visible close to the tree trunk.

Orlando Wetlands, Florida
April 12, 2022

Raptor

Osprey at Okefenokee Swamp

May 27, 2021 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

This Osprey was ahead of as we boated the canal at Okefenokee Swamp.

We would spot him, get just about close enough for an interesting image and off he’d go.

We repeated this series several times over an hour and never saw him fish.

April 29, 2021

Raptor

Osprey Perched Over My Head

November 29, 2020 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

The pond below this Osprey was way to shallow for him to hunt, but he seemed fascinated by something.

I moved along and got a better view, especially when he sat up.

Raptor

This Pond Isn’t Big Enough For Both of Us

August 5, 2020 Ellen Jennings 12 Comments

As I rounded the corner of the pond I could hear an Osprey calling, and finally spotted him perched with a view of the pond and river beyond.

Then I saw what he was calling about: Bald Eagle on a fast approach. All the other birds I had seen as I approached were gone.

The Eagle landed a few trees over from the Osprey.

The Osprey wasn’t interested in any competition and buzzed the Eagle.

I thought the Eagle would stand his ground — but I guess he wasn’t interested in a rumble right then.

I didn’t see the Eagle again; the Osprey made a few menacing laps around the pond with his claws out, ready for something!

Raptor

Hovering Osprey

March 22, 2020 Ellen Jennings 1 Comment

Two Osprey were flying over the Kiawah River while I was watching the Dolphins on Wednesday.

Osprey are expert hover / divers for fish in the water.

I did not see either of them dive but did enjoy watching the display of their flying skills.

In between stationery hovers they took advantage of the stiff breeze with seemingly effortless swooping.

Hi there!

Raptor

Shake and Fly

October 7, 2019 Ellen Jennings 4 Comments

I saw the dive but I didn’t see the Osprey go into the pond to catch this fish as my view was blocked by a tree. Osprey can completely submerge and work really hard to break free of the water, harder if they caught something. Other times I have witnessed this the Osprey would then make a bee-line for a tree or other secure spot to eat.

Back in my line of sight he shook several times, lightening his load of the excess water while hanging firmly onto lunch. Then he circled around the pond several times with his catch, undecided about where to go.

What he probably knew that I didn’t until a couple minutes later was he was about to be chased by a pair of Bald Eagles hoping to lighten his load. Suddenly he decided to head for the trees and the last I saw of them the Osprey was in the lead.

Raptor

Osprey With Catch

November 20, 2018 Ellen Jennings 15 Comments

I had seen a splash up the river where I was watching the Dolphins and thought it might be a strand feeding I had missed. Turns out it was an Osprey using his skills to get lunch!

I was quite surprised when he flew right passed me and continued out to the edge of the ocean where he landed to eat.

I had expected him to turn inland and find a tree and some cover. There had been several Pelicans watching him fish and an Eagle flying over–just a couple of characters that would be happy to take his meal away.