Scanning for Breakfast

 

Scanning for breakfast

An American Osprey

With eagle vision

Goldfish for breakfast

Osprey, the fish hawk

Showing it's hunting prowess

Goldfish for breakfast

Osprey maneuvers

Osprey maneuvers,

closely tailed by a bird,

amazing to watch.

American Osprey hunter

  
It's fish for breakfast.

An American Osprey.

A skilled fish hunter.

Audacity

An Eastern Kingbird chased an American Osprey away from the pond at Bassett Creek Park earlier this week.  I was hoping to get a picture of this beautiful osprey fishing, but alas, I guess it was in this kingbird's territory.  Pretty bold little bird wouldn't you say?

Observing the food chain at Bassett Creek Park

It has been interesting seeing the food chain in action at Bassett Creek Park this past week.


First it was an American Osprey that I captured after it dove down to catch a large goldfish.












                                                                                       


Next I observed a Great Blue Heron on the shores of the pond who had captured a small bullhead.  

   

Finally it was a treat to discover a Baltimore Oriole with a green worm for its chicks.



So it goes, the web of life!

Park drama

I had a chance to witness an amazing drama at Bassett Creek Park yesterday. Initially it was fascinating to watch an American Osprey being tailed by a Grackle.  The Osprey later swooped down to capture a goldfish from the pond.  Moments later a Juvenile American Bald Eagle forced the Osprey to drop its fish, which it then retrieved and flew off with into the horizon.

Another surprise subject

Osprey with catch

Juvenile Bald Eagle in the chase

American Osprey have become frequent visitors to the pond at Bassett Creek Park these days.  Sometimes there are as many as three of them circling the sky, watching for fish.  

Following a recent successful catch one of the Osprey was quickly chased by a juvenile American Bald Eagle, who was perched on the branch of a nearby Cottonwood tree.  Other Osprey came to the defense of the successful hunter.  I couldn't see for sure, but I don't think that the eagle was able to snatch the fish away.  

Mature Bald Eagle cruising in the sky

Financial humor

Gold continues to soar

As downright depressing as the stock market is these days I thought it appropriate that I post some financial humor.  Perhaps better to laugh than to cry? These pictures were taken yesterday.

The U.S. sent Vice President Biden to assure nervous Chinese that we
are still good to pay back their one trillion plus of investments in our
treasury securities.   China sent these Shaolin Kung Fu martial artists to
the U.S. to remind us they still intend to collect.

The Shaolin Kung Fu presenters are at the Mall of America all week, promoting travel to China.

The American Osprey is fishing at Bassett Creek Park in the city of Crystal.  Both times I've witnessed the Osprey catching fish they've been gold.  Apparently one of the neighbors has been dumping gold fish into the pond.  I'm guessing it is much easier for the Osprey to spot a gold fish than a gray carp.

While the stock market has plunged, the price of gold is skyrocketing, up 30% this year.

American Osprey soaring

American Osprey morning shot

 Yesterday morning it was a pleasant surprise to see an American Osprey soaring above Bassett Creek Park.  Rather take than my usual extended walk I went home to grab the camera.  I was hoping it might make a plunge and grab a fish for breakfast.  No such luck.  The water was still quite murky.  Another osprey joined it for couple of circles around the pond.

Later in the day, when I was going out for a run, what do you know, but the osprey was back.  So, again I changed plans and got a camera back into my hands.  This time the light was much brighter, making for better conditions for photographing this magnificent bird.  Again, no luck on the fishing end.

Hopefully the osprey will be back and I'll be able to catch some shots of it capturing a fish.  I was able to do this a couple of years ago, but now have stepped up my camera and lens just a bit.

Osprey with afternoon sun and blue skies

One of the things I like about nature photography is that there is no schedule.  Things just happen when they happen.  However, it helps tremendously if you're prepared with the equipment, know how to operate your camera for optimal pictures,  are up early to capture the morning light, etc.  It also  helps simply to spend a lot of time outdoors looking for the beautiful shot, my favorite part of all!

PS  To get a better view of these pictures you can simply click on them with your mouse.

Osprey photo series

Cruising around pond

Soaring overhead

Splash down

Captured goldfish

Taking off with catch

When being targeted as prey, in a pond mostly full of gray carp, seems like it would be a significant disadvantage being gold  Too much bling!