{"id":113029,"date":"2023-04-29T02:39:22","date_gmt":"2023-04-29T08:39:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=113029"},"modified":"2024-03-15T03:43:35","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T09:43:35","slug":"osprey-lifting-off-after-missing-prey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/04\/29\/osprey-lifting-off-after-missing-prey\/","title":{"rendered":"Osprey Lifting Off After Missing Prey"},"content":{"rendered":"

I had great fun photographing this Osprey lifting off from an unsuccessful dive for prey two days ago. It was definitely a challenge and I will explain why.<\/p>\n

\"OspreyOsprey lifting off after an unsuccessful dive \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1\/800, ISO 640, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

First, I want to explain my odd looking exposure compensation setting used to take these images. My exposure setting was set the way it was because I was photographing the Osprey in flight against clouds and sky.<\/p>\n

When I noticed that the Osprey was getting ready to dive I very quickly moved my lens to aim at the pond where I thought the Osprey would hit the water. I didn’t have time to adjust my exposure compensation.<\/p>\n

The resulting images did look a touch blown out but I was able to recover the fine details in post processing. That isn’t something I normally like to do but I liked the action in these photos. I like the photos, period.<\/p>\n

\"OspreyOsprey taking off from an urban pond \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1\/800, ISO 640, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Fortunately for me, I had aimed my lens approximately at the spot where the Osprey<\/span><\/a> hit the water. I was able to lock focus on the bird as it started to lift off and take a series of photos. The water still shows signs of the Osprey’s impact on it. I had hoped that the bird had captured prey but the empty talons showed that it missed.<\/p>\n

\"SpringSpring Osprey lifting off from a pond \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1\/800, ISO 640, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Why are Ospreys Called Fish Hawks?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The primary item in the diet of Ospreys is fish. Their feet have specialized barbs on the pads and reversible outer “toes” that aids in grasping slippery fish. They are also very well adapted to plunge diving for their prey.<\/p>\n

Whether you call them Ospreys or Fish Hawks, these birds are amazing to see soaring in the sky, diving after prey, or lifting off from the water after a dive. I hope to share more Osprey photos from that morning soon.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Osprey photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I had great fun photographing this Osprey lifting off from an unsuccessful dive for prey two days ago. It was definitely a challenge and I will explain why.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":113017,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,466,709,26],"tags":[4004,4478,4052,4122,4282,4944,3992,6784,4189,10698,1984,153,165,3792,5428,13863,8018,3996],"class_list":["post-113029","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-ospreys","category-salt-lake-county-utah","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-dive","tag-flight","tag-flying","tag-lift-off","tag-lifting-off","tag-osprey","tag-ospreys","tag-pandion-haliaetus","tag-park","tag-pond","tag-raptors","tag-spring","tag-take-off","tag-taking-off","tag-unsuccessful","tag-urban","tag-water"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/osprey-coming-up-from-a-dive-mia-mcpherson-3792.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-tp3","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":124317,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/03\/15\/eyes-on-the-sky-osprey-migration-is-underway\/","url_meta":{"origin":113029,"position":0},"title":"Eyes On The Sky – Osprey Migration Is Underway","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 15, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"It is time for me to keep my eyes on the sky because Osprey migration is underway. Online, in the past week, I've seen them being reported in Montana and Idaho.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Osprey on spring migration, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/osprey-urban-spring-migration-mia-mcpherson-3769.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/osprey-urban-spring-migration-mia-mcpherson-3769.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/osprey-urban-spring-migration-mia-mcpherson-3769.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/osprey-urban-spring-migration-mia-mcpherson-3769.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":113528,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/05\/22\/peek-a-boo-osprey-in-flight-over-my-local-pond\/","url_meta":{"origin":113029,"position":1},"title":"Peek-a-boo Osprey In Flight Over My Local Pond","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 22, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"At the end of April I spent the morning photographing birds at my local pond. This peek-a-boo Osprey was one of my favorites images from that day.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Peek-a-boo Osprey in flight, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/osprey-peek-a-boo-flight-mia-mcpherson-2579.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/osprey-peek-a-boo-flight-mia-mcpherson-2579.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/osprey-peek-a-boo-flight-mia-mcpherson-2579.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/osprey-peek-a-boo-flight-mia-mcpherson-2579.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 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Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/osprey-fish-flight-mia-mcpherson-6020.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/osprey-fish-flight-mia-mcpherson-6020.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/osprey-fish-flight-mia-mcpherson-6020.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/osprey-fish-flight-mia-mcpherson-6020.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":113219,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/05\/04\/spring-caspian-tern-photos\/","url_meta":{"origin":113029,"position":3},"title":"Spring Caspian Tern Photos Plus A Bonus Osprey Image","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 4, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"At the end of last month, I had the pleasure of taking Caspian Tern photos as these terns were flying and fishing at my local pond.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Nearly eye level with a flying Caspian Tern, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/caspian-tern-adult-flight-urban-mia-mcpherson-3874.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/caspian-tern-adult-flight-urban-mia-mcpherson-3874.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/caspian-tern-adult-flight-urban-mia-mcpherson-3874.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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2015","format":false,"excerpt":"This Osprey image was taken in April of 2009 at Fort De Soto's north beach. 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