Was working a higher elevation pond planting marginals mid day and I heard theis loud splash, and saw a bird swoop off the water. I thinking what the hell was that? Two of them were circling overhead and I did not exactly scare them off. In for a second dive bomb, another miss, talons empty. Third strike, and they were out without fish. But I saw my first ever ospreys. What a magnificent bird. I have seen all of the herons, grebes, mergansers and comorants, they just don't do anything for me except make me want to blast them. But these things just seemed to accelerate as they dove and hit the water hard with talons extended. Never seen them before.
You are lucky, the Osprey around my place never seem to miss...
They are far better at fishing than bald eagles. The eagles usually just steal fish from them. They're all over the place here along the Potomac River in Virginia. Nothing better than seeing one flying along with a carp in its talons.
"Nothing better than seeing one flying along with a carp in its talons."
except maybe a snakehead?
HAHA, I have actually come to like them. I honestly don't think they are going to affect the fishery that much. They really don't seem to compete with LMB, YET... But we'll see. I have only caught a few but have some friends who have been getting pretty good at catching them. They seem to like the really stagnant nasty backwater areas thick with vegetation. Not really where LMB tend to hang out...
Here, eagles will dive repeatedly to snag one of our fish,and even then, fly away hungry more often than not, while the ospreys connect better than half the time.
Coolest thing EVER was winter before last, we had a pair of eagles tagteam, kill, and EAT a number of GB Herons!
More than made up for the fish they ate!
When I saw my first ospreys, they were flying at treetop level near a lake. All I could think of was the magnificent wing span and how effortlessly they flew.