On Thursday, I had an opportunity to take pictures of a beautiful osprey. It was sitting on a cell phone tower, and it really didn’t move much. Occasionally, it changed its position, which was very awesome, as if it knew that it was posing for photographs. The sky was a beautiful blue that day. The next day, it rained really hard, so I’m happy that I had the opportunity for photography when I had it.
Apparently, it is difficult to differentiate between female and male ospreys. Females are larger and heavier than their male counterparts and they have darker chest feathers than males, which often have pure white chests. This bird has a medium coloring to its chest feathers, so who knows? Male? Female? It’s hard to say. Beautiful? For sure.
At some point in the next few weeks, I will paint a portrait of this magnificent bird. Here’s a little more information about ospreys. The osprey is a type of hawk. Its favorite food is fish. Ospreys dive into the water to catch their prey. They are very large raptors, averaging more than 60 centimeters (24 inches) in length and with a wing span average 180 centimeters (71 inches). They are a common bird, found in every continent but Antarctica. That makes the osprey unusual, because there are very few species of animal that is found all over the earth.
The osprey’s scientific name is Pandion haliaetus. It is also known as a sea hawk, a river hawk, or as a fish hawk. It can adjust to almost any habitat and it likes to live near bodies of water that provide it with an adequate food source.
What a wonderful experience to photograph such a beautiful osprey! It’s fascinating to learn more about these birds, including their ability to adapt to different habitats and their worldwide distribution. I can’t wait to see the portrait you paint of this magnificent bird!
Thank you for your comments, Paul. They are much appreciated. Being able to adapt is certainly an excellent trait for everyone. And the osprey do it so beautifully.
Great pictures! And I look forward to seeing the painting. I didn’t know that an osprey was a kind of hawk. I have occasionally looked up birds to find their spiritual meaning, but really don’t know a lot about them beyond that.
I have a friend who is a very dedicated birder, and he’s told me quite a lot about birds! I also do a little research on the internet to get more information. Never was interested in being a bird watcher (or a birder), but, without realizing it, it happened!
Beautiful shots of a beautiful bird! There is a nest of Ospreys on a marker pole in the Intercoastal Waterway down here. I can’t wait to see your painting!
A whole nest!!! That’s amazing! Will make the painting later this month, after my upcoming trip to California!