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Osprey Breakfast WC481
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Osprey Breakfast WC481

by Larry Reitz

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted May 3, 201195 views4 comments
I refer to this as my OMG photo. I was kayaking around the Connecticut River estuary in Old Lyme,CT, looking for anything interesting to photograph. I pulled along shore and focused on the nearly mature osprey on the nest and took a picture not hoping for much. Needless to say when I opened the file on my computer my jaw dropped. I had no idea the adult was incoming, let alone that it could possibly be in focus.

The fish is a Fluke (Summer Flounder), a bottom feeder who apparently met it's demise and floated to the surface where the osprey could take advantage. The image has generated a lot of discussion in my art festival booth as to what species caused the flounder's demise. Some say bluefish, but I lean toward shark as the bite is clean and I don't think a Blue would have left anything for the osprey.

Taken around 7AM in Aug. 2007 with a Canon 10D and 300mm lens. Iso 200, f/8 and 1/750 sec.

Comments

4 comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on May 3, 2011 at 1:28 PM
Really nice poses here! The angle of the incoming bird with the fluke is great.
I think this must be a large crop, as it's pretty soft and a lot of noise. Running some NR on the BG would help, as would some selective sharpening of the birds.
Great catch!
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by RL Potts on May 4, 2011 at 12:34 AM
The missing filet is a suprise within your surprise. Good job. I don't think the placement could have been much bettwer, even if you had planned it.
Registered on November 24, 2003, 188 Posts, 985 Comments
Comment posted by Varina Patel on May 4, 2011 at 5:30 PM
The young birds seem to have their jaws hanging open in awe. :smile: this is really cool!
Registered on August 22, 2008, 45 Posts, 1578 Comments
Comment posted by Dennis Plank on May 4, 2011 at 10:57 PM
Perfect timing, even if you didn't know it, Larry. Excellent. :toast:
Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments