Osprey with food

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

The Eastern Osprey (Pandion cristatus) is slowly making its way south in my state as populations have stabilised and younger birds once again start occupying home ranges in the SE of the state. My home town of Sydney has at least two pairs (one known breeding pair thus far - the other has failed at least once) and this is one of those breeders from Sydney's northern beaches.

The fish is a Luderick (Girella tricuspidata), which is an Aboriginal name, but it is aka Blackfish and the old Aussie colloquial name was the derogatory N-word still used well into the 90s. It never fazed anyone here, as the reference was to this very species of fish and not to people. Since the fish often feeds in shallow water on aquatic vegetation it makes easy prey for the hawks.

Hand held 1D3, 500/1.4x, ISO500, f/5.6, 1/2500th, a little crop from FF.
Lifted shadows under the wing a tad.

Wish for better light, but you get what you get.

[Randy Stout]

Akos:

NIce wing extension, fish, slight head turn towards us. Thanks for the natural history lesson as well.

Ospreys are so common here in some areas, that we tend to take them for granted, but I am glad they are making progress in your area. Provide lots of photo ops.

Cheers

Randy

[Karl Egressy]

Nice up wing pose and head turn captured, Akos. I would take off some from the left.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Mate, you managed a nice head turn here, and an even better flight pose with a fully extended near wing. Well exposed on the underwing, sharp, and thats a fair size meal to get tuck into.

[gail bisson]

Nice image Akosh and as Randy said we tend to take them for granted here in North America.
Nice wings up pose.
I can't help but wish the fish was facing our way. It is a great looking fish with the stripes and I find myself looking for a better view of the face.
I do like the way the fish tail is between the tail feathers,
Gail

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent flight shot with fish. Very nice wing position and HA, great details and nice composition..


Regards,
Satish.

[arash_hazeghi]

very nice Akos, it's rare to get one with the fish's head still in place, good details and pose. The light was a bit too harsh here but you handled it best as you could

TFS

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Thanks for the comments guys.
I was lucky, as I walked out onto this large rock platform up to my knees in the small waves.
The bird had an enormous area in which it could have flown, but for my benefit it chose to come in close.

[adrian dancy]

Nice work Akos. I'd be happy to get Osprey close up even in harsh light! A good wing spread here and nice detail. Well done:)

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the HA, catch and agree with Karl's composition suggestion. Nice image Akos.