{"id":124317,"date":"2024-03-15T04:25:26","date_gmt":"2024-03-15T10:25:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=124317"},"modified":"2025-05-08T06:15:40","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T11:15:40","slug":"eyes-on-the-sky-osprey-migration-is-underway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/03\/15\/eyes-on-the-sky-osprey-migration-is-underway\/","title":{"rendered":"Eyes On The Sky – Osprey Migration Is Underway"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n

\"OspreyOsprey on spring migration \u2013 Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1\/1250, ISO 640, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Idaho and Montana are further north than Utah, so the Ospreys may be flying over here already. Today, the Ospreys in northern Utah might be grounded because of the high winds<\/span><\/a> we are experiencing here.<\/p>\n

Last March, I found my first Osprey of the year soon after a snowstorm in urban habitat. I feel that I should note that during spring and fall migration, Ospreys can be found in places that might seem a little unusual.<\/p>\n

\"OspreyOsprey in desert ranchlands during spring migration \u2013 Nikon D500, f6.3, 1\/1000, ISO 500, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I’ve found Ospreys out in the West Desert of Utah during fall migration, which might seem odd. But there was a reservoir nearby that does have stocked fish in it. I’ve also found Ospreys during spring migration in desert ranchlands, but again there was a farm pond close by that probably has fish in it.<\/p>\n

If my local weather forecast is correct and it does<\/em> start to warm up here, I should be able to open my living room window a crack so I can listen for ospreys at my local pond. But only after the high winds here die down.<\/p>\n

I adore hearing Ospreys calling<\/span><\/a>, watching them hover in flight over the water as they hunt, and photographing them at every opportunity.<\/p>\n

These “Fish Hawks” are amazing and highly adapted to hunting fish. Their feet have specialized barbs on the pads and reversible outer \u201ctoes\u201d that aids in grasping slippery fish. They are also very well adapted to plunge diving for their prey.<\/p>\n

I can’t wait to see and hear these beautiful birds!<\/p>\n

Today is a special day. It is the birthday of my oldest son. After 27 hours of labor, William was born.<\/p>\n

Happy Birthday, William! I hope you have a great day. Love you.<\/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":"

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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":143400,"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":[27,1148,466,709,26],"tags":[4004,4008,4098,4415,4052,4122,530,3992,6784,4189,10698,4104,5497,1984,11852,4063,153,3973,4018,165,8018,30,3996],"class_list":["post-124317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-box-elder-county-utah","category-ospreys","category-salt-lake-county-utah","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-box-elder-county","tag-desert","tag-fish-hawk","tag-flight","tag-flying","tag-migration","tag-osprey","tag-ospreys","tag-pandion-haliaetus","tag-park","tag-perched","tag-pole","tag-pond","tag-ranchlands","tag-raptor","tag-raptors","tag-salt-lake-county","tag-sky","tag-spring","tag-urban","tag-utah-2","tag-water"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/osprey-urban-spring-migration-mia-mcpherson-3769.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-wl7","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":111702,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/03\/27\/first-of-year-osprey-plus-a-spring-snowstorm\/","url_meta":{"origin":124317,"position":0},"title":"First of Year Osprey Plus A Spring Snowstorm","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 27, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"I had something wonderful happen yesterday following a spring snowstorm in Salt Lake City. I found my first of year Osprey close to home perched on a pole.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"First of Year Osprey after a snowstorm, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/osprey-urban-first-of-year-6956.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/osprey-urban-first-of-year-6956.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/osprey-urban-first-of-year-6956.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/osprey-urban-first-of-year-6956.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":113029,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/04\/29\/osprey-lifting-off-after-missing-prey\/","url_meta":{"origin":124317,"position":1},"title":"Osprey Lifting Off After Missing Prey","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 29, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"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.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Osprey lifting off after an unsuccessful dive, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/osprey-coming-up-from-a-dive-mia-mcpherson-3792.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/osprey-coming-up-from-a-dive-mia-mcpherson-3792.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/osprey-coming-up-from-a-dive-mia-mcpherson-3792.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/osprey-coming-up-from-a-dive-mia-mcpherson-3792.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":74239,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/10\/01\/surprise-immature-osprey-in-the-west-desert-of-utah\/","url_meta":{"origin":124317,"position":2},"title":"Surprise Immature Osprey In The West Desert Of Utah","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 1, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"I don't know how many times I have said \"expect the unexpected\" since I began photographing birds while talking to fellow photographers.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Immature Osprey in a desert setting, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/osprey-immature-desert-fence-post-mia-mcpherson-2284.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/osprey-immature-desert-fence-post-mia-mcpherson-2284.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/osprey-immature-desert-fence-post-mia-mcpherson-2284.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/osprey-immature-desert-fence-post-mia-mcpherson-2284.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":124317,"position":3},"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 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14633,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/03\/27\/my-love-of-ospreys\/","url_meta":{"origin":124317,"position":4},"title":"My Love of Ospreys","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 27, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Three days ago a first of the year sighting from the UBIRD group got me all excited because it means that the Ospreys have returned to Utah!","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Male Osprey in flight with prey at Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Daggett County, 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":83073,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/04\/01\/utahs-ospreys-are-back-for-their-nesting-season\/","url_meta":{"origin":124317,"position":5},"title":"Utah’s Ospreys Are Back For Their Nesting Season","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"I was hoping to find my first of the year Swainson's Hawks yesterday but instead I spotted my first of year Ospreys.\u00a0","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Female and male Ospreys on their nest, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Daggett County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ospreys-on-the-nest-flaming-gorge-mia-mcpherson-4843.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ospreys-on-the-nest-flaming-gorge-mia-mcpherson-4843.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ospreys-on-the-nest-flaming-gorge-mia-mcpherson-4843.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, 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