Yeah, if you are the fish immediately below this, you are about to have a really, really bad day. 😀 

This past weekend I spent some time photographing these awesome raptors as they patrolled and fished a few ponds. Overall, the fishing action was kind of light but I was able to capture one entire sequence of an osprey as it made its dive and catch. This image is the final one before the bird hits the water and snags an unsuspecting fish. With those wings back and the talons extended, an osprey can reach speeds up to 70mph right before hitting the water!

Right on time. I spotted my first osprey of the season last week but didn’t come away with any worthwhile captures. This weekend, I had much better luck as more returned to the Centennial State and the residents of one of my favorite nest stands arrived.

The pair was quite busy getting things ready for nesting season. Well, the male was busy, as he did quite a bit of work while the female pretty much just stood around and supervised. 😉 In between deliveries of sticks to add to the home, there was time for some “recreation” as the pair began working on making those babies.

Gee, what a wonderful gesture by this beautiful hawk. 😉  Okay, I admit the osprey wasn’t really playing taxi and only cared about ensuring its talons maintained a firm grip on its breakfast.

Last weekend I spent some time in northern Colorado hoping to get a bit more quality time with these summertime visitors before they headed south for the winter. This was, unfortunately the only osprey to make an appearance but at least it gave me some nice shots as it flew by.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

A month or so ago I shared an image of an osprey making one of their infamous dives into the water for fish. This is the next image in the series and is equally as compelling.

Here you get the full effect of how the osprey folds its wings back just before entering the water, maximizing its speed as it prepares to strike a poor, unsuspecting fish from above.

You will notice the talons are milliseconds away from entry and that the bird has closed its nictitating membrane – its inner eyelid – in preparation of hitting the water. An incredible predator showcasing its amazing ability. 

Yes, yes, yes! I intimated a couple days ago that I got a photo this past weekend that I had been wanting for years and this is it.

I have taken thousands of pictures of these fantastic raptors but never have I gotten what I considered a good picture of one diving toward the water to catch a fish. Bad angles, backlighting, poor focus and so many other things have made the image very elusive. Throw in the fact that when osprey dive they can hit from 30 to 50 miles per hour and it is a very tough shot to get.

Well, Sunday I finally did it.

A dive earlier in the morning came close but backlighting ruined it. When this osprey started to hunt, I moved myself to a better position putting the sun at the side. Thankfully, I was able to keep up as it plunged into the water, wings back, talons first, ready to snag some unsuspecting fish. Unfortunately for the osprey, it missed on this strike but its

A totally chance encounter with this awesome bird of prey. I stopped at an area open space to grab some pics of some pelicans and herons. As I got out of my truck, I see a large bird heading right for me.

Quickly I throw up my camera and start snapping pictures, capturing a great sequence of this handsome fellow as he flew over. He had managed to catch himself a really nice-sized fish (carp?) and was keen to show it off.

I do occasionally see osprey at this spot but have yet to find a nest. Taken in Adams County, Colorado.

A great morning for this osprey and the photographer. As for the fish, well, I reckon it had had better days. LOL!

Taken St. Vrain State Park, Colorado, a couple of weeks ago on a “me day” I had taken to recharge. I spent the morning watching these guys and gals dive into the water, easily snagging fish with just about every attempt.

I never did successfully get the dive, something which is on my photo bucket list. However, I did get this capture of this handsome fellow as he emerged from the water.

Taken with my Canon EOSR5 and RF 100-500mm lens.

These awesome raptors have returned to the Colorado Front Range and are busily setting up their homes for mating season. Last weekend I checked out this spot that was vacant the week before and found the male and female had finally arrived.

While the male wasn’t too interested in doing anything exciting, the female was quite active. At one point, she departed, disappeared down into an old, dry lakebed, and emerged with some building materials for the pair’s home.

In recent years, this nest has not had any luck successfully fledging young. Hopefully that will change in 2021.

That is what I imagined this beautiful osprey was thinking yesterday as it seemed to be a bit annoyed with me. 😉

Knowing these awesome raptors were returning to the Colorado Front Range for the season, I ventured out to try to get my first photos of the season of them. With how early it is, they were few and far between and usually too far away but this one was kind enough to give me some nice poses.

While it looks annoyed, it wasn’t really upset with my presence as it pretty much ignored me and continued its watch, undoubtedly awaiting the arrival of its mate.

Osprey can be found across much of North and South America, only staying year-round in Florida and the Baja California area. Winters are spent in South America and along the Gulf Coast while they summer in the northern third of North America. Some will migrate 5000 miles to their summer homes.

In the coming months I am sure I will have many more photo opportunities with them.

I kind of like the pose here and, in particular, the nice look at those impressive talons it provides.

It is about time to bid farewell to this summer time visitor to Colorado. Very soon they will be beginning their migration to the Gulf Coast and South America.

This was the female at a nest stand not too far north of me. Unfortunately, she and her mate were not successful in having any offspring this year, the second year in a row the nest has failed. Hopefully if they or another pair return to the same spot next year, they will have better luck.