Osprey with fresh-caught fish

I was just settling in to my favorite chair to catch up on reading some long-neglected photography magazines, when out of the corner of my eye I saw something big sitting on top of the dead palm trunk in my neighbor’s yard. Once I figured out what it was, I ran upstairs to get my camera and braved the 35 degree weather for a half hour while this osprey ate a fish he must have just caught in a nearby retention pond. Needless to say, my photography magazines are still waiting to be read, but I do have some pretty awesome photos of this osprey now. Unfortunately the image size limitations of my blog don’t do the images justice, but you get an idea. Enjoy, and Happy New Year!

Checking out the neighborhood before digging into the fresh catch:

What appears to be a stork flying by in the background. Have I ever mentioned how much I love living on the marsh and seeing all this wildlife every day?

I had no idea what he/she was eating until I saw the images on my computer screen. The lack of flying feathers at least clued me in it wasn’t one of the many birds that hang out by our feeder or bird bath.

Once the catch was eaten, the osprey sat for a long while, often rustling its feathers and enjoying the warm sun on a cold day.

Even though I was quiet so as not to disturb him/her, I think he/she did know I was there the entire time.

And, suddenly, the osprey flew away over the marsh. Check out those talons in this image:

The osprey’s wingspan is HUGE. I’m so stoked I was able to capture this osprey with my camera…