I was driving out by the lake with my camera looking for birds. I pulled over to the side of the road next to the lake and hopped to see if there were any birds and I didn’t see any on the water, but I looked up and saw an osprey and quickly started shooting. He looked like he was carrying something and reviewing the photos I saw that he had caught himself a meal. I was holding down the shutter hoping I could get a little sunlight on him or her. Below is my best shot with its wings high enough to let a little light in.
A mile or so down the road I found another osprey carrying a stick and watched it land on a power pole where it looked like it was attempting to build a nest. So, I pulled over in the grass and got some photos. This nest on a power line pole doesn’t seem like a good idea to me. From what I have read, ospreys build nests in these places, so maybe it is fine.
When the sun is high, it is hard to get enough light on the underside of the bird. So, when I edited these photos, I had to boost the shadows on the bird and reduce the brightness of the sky so it does make the birds look a bit haloed to me.
I don’t know why it is so much fun to see birds of prey. I got photos of a lot of other birds but decided to focus on the ospreys here. Thanks for reading.
Jason Frels 
Those are great shots. I love our birds of prey, too. We have Harris’s hawks.
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Great shots. I think ospreys are beautiful birds. When the osprey building the nest discovers the price of his new home, I think he’s going to be shocked.
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Okay, I may have chuckled at that one, PUN-ster.
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Good. I guess I can take my helmet off, now.
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Sure, just leave it off. 🙂
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It will remain tied to my belt, for quick deployment.
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LOL! Maybe I am turning over a new leaf in the New Year?
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Yeah, sure. I believe it. (patting my trusty helmet at my side).
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nice to be in the right place at the right time, with the right equipment, and the right set of skills. great photos.
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I’d like to claim it was anything more than luck.
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I’d say effort and skill played a major role.
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Nice, Jason. There are some places around here where conservationists have put up poles with platforms for osprey and other rapators can safely build their nests on. Speaking a fire on an utility pole would suck.
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I was thinking rain making those sticks wet shorting from line to line or something
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Osprey will turn fish into the wind when they fly with them.
Power-lines are a big problem in the nearby valley. A lot of poles will have a big “T” bolted to their tops to help keep predatory birds from landing too close to the wires.
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Looks like you got there at the perfect time to snap some cool photos. Great job!
Hopefully, the osprey will find a better place to build a nest. Some place less shocking. 🙂
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Great shots Jason! We saw an osprey once carrying a long snake. Every once in while we hear of snakes ending up in places that they couldn’t climb to. I wonder if an osprey dropped it? Anyway, great work and keep it up! Blessings for a wonderful New Year!
Denny Martindale
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