Pandion haliaetus

Posted 24 June 2013 by

Photograph by Paul Burnett. Photography contest, Honorable Mention.
Pandion haliaetus -- osprey.

7 Comments

Mike Elzinga · 24 June 2013

Alcoa has been monitoring a pair of ospreys for a couple of years now. This is the second brood of three since last year.

These are getting close to fledging.

Paul Burnett · 24 June 2013

Things people have commented on about this picture:

Can you say "binocular vision?"

Note the fish it's eating, and the 180-degree hooked claws.

Henry J · 24 June 2013

But it's still a bird!!!11111!!!eleven!!!!!!

Sinjari · 24 June 2013

If the beak of a thousand fish nightmares belongs to the great blue heron, the talons must belong to the osprey

John Harshman · 27 June 2013

Hmmm. The tree is apparently a California sycamore, which puts the picture somewhere from San Francisco on south. What's the fish?

apokryltaros · 27 June 2013

John Harshman said: What's the fish?
The fish is dinner.

Paul Burnett · 28 June 2013

John Harshman said: Hmmm. The tree is apparently a California sycamore, which puts the picture somewhere from San Francisco on south. What's the fish?
The picture was taken in south San Jose, California, off Almaden Expressway south of Blossom Hill Road...outside my office building. We have koi, Sacramento Suckers and other carp-like fish in the adjacent percolation pond, and it's occasionally stocked with bass.