Osprey in Flight with a Fish
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Heading back to our dock, we had to pass relatively close to one of our creek’s Osprey who was eating a fish on one of the pilings. I prepared for the presumed take-off.
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Osprey
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Preparing for that take-off!
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With fish in tow, of course!
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What a wonderful set of pictures. He kept his fish. 😊
Thank you, Sandy! Oh yes he did! 😊
Excellent series! Love the action shots from take off to in flight. It looks so beautiful!
Thank you, Simon! Osprey are a beautiful bird, I really had a great photo op chance with this one. 😊
Wow! Amazing and beautiful, Donna!! 💙
Thank you, Lisa!!
You’ll often see the fish headless as the male will typically eat the head before returning the catch to the nest so that the chicks are not harmed by a live fish. In any case, the fish is always carried with its head facing forward to avoid drag. This is also practical for evasive flight if the osprey is chased by an eagle.
Yes, all Osprey carry a fish head first for aerodynamics purposes. Smart bird! When they land, the head is in front, so it makes sense they eat it first.
A first year adult male Osprey quickly learns his first breeding season to cater to his female with fish deliveries to her while she’s incubating eggs. In order to keep himself strong and nourished to keep up with her demands, it is typical for the male Osprey to still eat the head of the fish first before delivery. Once the chicks are born, the male Osprey will actually eat the head while in flight if necessary, trying to get back to his screaming family. I’ve also seen fish being delivered whole, flopping away while being passed to the female to feed chicks. She’s good at quickly securing the fish from injuring the chicks. That happens when the male isn’t hungry.
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Thank you, Ted!
👌👌👌📷💖 wow… again excellent work, dear Donna🌞📷
Thank you, Mic! 😊
Awesom shots Donna 🙂
Thank you, Rudi! 😊
Excellent series of images, Donna! It is a beauty.
Thank you, Deborah! I agree!!
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Excellent series, Donna. And a fish for a prize!
Thank you, Jane!
Beautiful flight shots Donna, of a bird you have so wonderfully showcased.
Thank you, Ashley! I love my Osprey!! 😊
As always, your photos are wonderful, Donna.
Thank you, Tanja!
Beautiful action series, Donna! I always wonder why the male eats the head before giving it to the female?
Thank you, Eliza! Great question!
First I’ll mention, in flight Osprey carry a fish head first for aerodynamics purposes. Smart bird! When they land, the head is in front, so it makes sense they eat the head first when perched.
While learning his first breeding season to cater to his female while she’s incubating eggs, the male also quickly learns he needs to keep himself strong and nourished to keep up with her demands, so it is typical for the male Osprey to pass on a partially eaten fish with that head gone. 😊 Another blogger mentioned in a previous comment that the head was eaten so the fish was dead to avoid injuring chicks. Could be some thought to that, but I’ve seen many live fish delivered, flopping, while being passed to the female. She’ll secure it quickly. For those deliveries, the male just wasn’t hungry. 🙂
Thanks for explaining!
You’re quite welcome!
Excellent photos, Donna. There’s no doubt…You are the queen of the Ospreys. 🙂
Thank you kindly, HJ! 🙂 Such a gorgeous bird!!
Amazing photos to view , specially it flying with fish 🌷🙏👍🏻😊
Thank you so much for sharing 👏🌷
Thank you very much! Such a pretty bird, they have beautiful coloring, so glad I got these shots to share! 😊
Most welcome 🌷🙏♥️you are a smart photographer and
Your posts are all amazing 👍🏻😊thank you so much for sharing 👏😍
Awesome captures Donna! 💛
Thank you! 😊
Wonderful photos Donna, I especially like the 2nd and last photos!
Thank you, Liz! We are very lucky to have so many Osprey around the Chesapeake Bay. 🙂
Very Nice Donna! Always enjoy seeing your Osprey Images!
Thank you, Reed!
I gather he gets the delicacy (the head) and takes the rest to his partner. I stopped to see the previous comments, well explained. Great clear, close photos! I feel like Spring has arrived.
Thank you, Jane! Finally. Spring has arrived!!! 🙂
Great action series, Donna!
Thank you, Ellen!
That must have been so cool to watch him take his supper to go, Donna! Great shots!
Thank you, Terri!
Wonderful photography and stunning beauty of the bird’s photos 🌷🙏♥️👍🏻🌷
Thank you!! 🙂
Fantastic pictures! Interesting that he only needs one foot to hold on to the fish while in flight.
Thank you, Barbara! Those Osprey talons have super gripping powers! 😉
Great lift off shots – I really like the composition in the 4th one.
Thank you!! 🙂
Amazing. 😊
Thank you, Pepper!
Amazing sequence of photos! Thank you Donna for sharing this look of one of nature’s most blessed sights . . . an Osprey in flight.
Thank you very much!
Absolutely amazing Donna. I didn’t realise they were so aware of aerodynamics, but when you think about it, it makes sense! Thanks for sharing 👍
Thank you, Rob! Birds have really taught us a lot, more than we realize. 😉