Osprey with Fish

It was a feeding frenzy that week just outside the mouth of the Klamath River on California's north coast. I counted 11 osprey in the air fishing at once. And because they are such efficient hunters, I expect there were easily twice that many off in trees eating their prey. There were also California Sea Lions, Steller Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, various sea ducks, Gray Whales, and Native American fishermen (Yurok, the largest tribe in California), all taking advantage of the sea's bounty.

Just before it hits the water, the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) extends its claws forward to grab the fish. While it flies back to a tree to eat its prey, it turns the fish around so the fish's head faces forward, being more aerodynamic.

Canon EOS 1V camera with 600 f/4 L IS lens and 1.4x teleconverter with Fuji Provia 100F film. 1/350 sec at f/5.6. Gitzo tripod with Wimberly head.


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		Osprey with Fish



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		It was a feeding frenzy that week just outside the mouth of the Klamath River on California's north coast. I counted 11 osprey in the air fishing at once. And because they are such efficient hunters, I expect there were easily twice that many off in trees eating their prey. There were also California Sea Lions, Steller Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, various sea ducks, Gray Whales, and Native American fishermen (Yurok, the largest tribe in California), all taking advantage of the sea's bounty. Just before it hits the water, the osprey (Pandion haliaetus) extends its claws forward to grab the fish. While it flies back to a tree to eat its prey, it turns the fish around so the fish's head faces forward, being more aerodynamic. Canon EOS 1V camera with 600 f/4 L IS lens and 1.4x teleconverter with Fuji Provia 100F film. 1/350 sec at f/5.6. Gitzo tripod with Wimberly head.