Originally published on Friday, July 05, 2013
The weather has been hot and muggy. The marine layer still
comes in and out but the birding has been great. There have been a lot of
juveniles of all kinds hanging out at the lagoon. The fishing has been super for
the herons and the egrets. But the one fishing bird that all the photographers
want to see at the San Elijo Lagoon is the Osprey.
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This photo shows a few adult Snowy Egrets and the ones
with the light green legs are the juveniles. They are all looking for the
cormorant to assist them with their fishing. I think this is the most egrets
I have ever gotten in one frame. There were a few more
around that day but I couldn't get them in this photo.
Since the first of the week, this young Osprey has been
hanging out on a tall snag by the boardwalk at the San Elijo Lagoon Nature Center Trail. He
is quite tolerant of all the photographers and
gawkers. He has been seen mostly in the mornings though I have spotted him in
the late afternoon several times as I drove by the lagoon on Manchester Drive
running errands. I love this expression, he is so darn
cute!
When he opens his wings, they go out of my camera
frame. In this shot , he looks as though he is intrigued by his wings and how
he is able to take flight...
What I love about taking shots of the juvenile Ospreys is that they are still working on co-coordinating the wing movements with the take-off techniques. They may flap their wings several times
and adjust their balance before lifting off.
Today the young Osprey was already
perched on the snag as I drove up about 9am. Walking to the southwest point I
could see quite a few people near where the
Osprey was perched. Al was there waiting for the flight shot. I noticed that
Herb and another photographer were about 20 feet past where I was standing.
He had the same strategy as I had in mind... wait out
far enough away and when the Osprey took flight we could get some shots of him
in the air. All of a sudden Al gives out an ear-piercing
whistle and I notice that the Osprey has flown but gone east past the boardwalk
and has landed in the lagoon. He had dived for a fish and was now in up to his neck in the water. He had his wings spread like a flotation
device and it looked like there was turbulence around him. He has caught something!
And in a instant the Osprey launches himself out of the
water and yes... he has himself a very nice fish. Maybe a little too big for a
juvenile Osprey as he appears to struggle to get some height. He is really
pumping his huge wings. What a fantastic bird. These Ospreys are
amazing.
The fish is thrashing madly.The Osprey lets his right
talons loose for a split second and repositions them back further on the fish
for a better balance and control of the fighting fish
and at the same time he has to keep using all his skill and strength to fly. He
is barely clearing the pickle weeds ...
A few more pumps of his powerful wings and he is nicely
airborne as he comes my way and I am doing my best to hold my camera still. The
fish is still thrashing.
Wish this was in better focus... this is such a great
example of the stance that the Ospreys take to fly with their prey keeping them
streamlined but this fish is really fighting big time!
The fish twists and turns trying to get free of the
Osprey's grip...
Having gained enough airspace, the Osprey takes a moment
to shake some water off of himself as a dog coming out of a bath. There is some
eelgrass wrapped around his left leg.
Wow you can really see the fish fighting to get free in
this photo. The fish is facing backwards now, if birds could curse... I think he
is thinking, "Oh dang!!" The Osprey is definitely having to
deal with one angry fish. Thrashing under him in his talons like a bucking
bronco!
The look of determination shows on our young Osprey. He
is doing very well in taking his prey to his dining area.
The Osprey keeps flying and working towards the post in
the middle of the lagoon near the railroad tracks. They both look tired but the
young Osprey appears to have gained control again.
The fish still struggles and looks as though he is bent in
half but our brave Osprey keeps to his flight path.
Finally the youngster arrives at his feeding
post.
Oh, but the fish is still going to give him a hard time!
It was exciting and amazing to watch this youngster honing his skills and
being so successful at catching his prey. We are getting
to witness that it take incredible skill, strength and determination for a young Osprey to hunt and secure his prey. It's wonderful to see
this young Osprey learning his survival skills and doing so well.
It has been a wonderful morning for birding and seeing
this beautiful hummer made it even better. It's time for me to head for home.
Have a very nice Weekend everyone!
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