Well, OK, from where we were you couldn’t actually walk to where these osprey were. My distance estimator (aka the Big Guy) gave me a reading of 300 feet along the hypotenuse defined by the stretch of open water to the shore and the big tree sticking up from said shore.
At the limit of my camera’s zoom capability and at the limit of my capability to hold a long lens steady, the universe intervened and gave me a scene. And you, as it turns out.
After this it degenerated into a jumble of feathers and beaks (and fish bits, presumably), but my day was already made.
The Big Guy’s distance estimation sounds a little like the Sine of the Sign, of something like that. But the pictures are WOW!
Jim T
Jim – Thanks!
Terrific pictures!
Tom
Tom – Many thanks. We were *so* lucky to see this. I think we hung around for 15 minutes for a repeat engagement but although the adult came back once, it had no fish and just veered off without landing.
“The Osprey Descending” deserves accolades similar to “The Lark Ascending.” The light in the third shot that illuminates the underside of the parental wings as well as the nest and its waiting offspring also is divine and invites other comparisons with Divine nurture. Another Sunday sermon delivered and gratefully received.
Laurna – Yes, again we had the luck with us for the position of the sun. I’m still waiting for similar luck with a loon photo. Usually I’m shooting up-sun, and those dark heads definitely need some sunlight on them: from behind the camera, not in front of it!
Nice captures Isabel!
Nice to see them in a “natural” nest (i.e. not on a human-made platform or pylon).
I always love the way they line the talons up with a fish so it is a streamlined position, but must admit I don’t recall seeing one with the fish tail first. (But then I don’t claim to have seen a statistically significant quantity of osprey bringing fish to their offspring)
Jim – Many thanks. I can see that this sort of thing could be addictive. Hanging around, always hoping for a better shot . . . better light . . lower angle.