Within 10 minutes of arriving at blackwater nwr for the first time ever I witnessed the following event...got some nice shots of an osprey fishing and was very happy with them. Please excuse the image quality...



Then she's flying off too far so I stop shooting and see something out of the corner of my eye...AN EAGLE! Maybe not a big deal to you guys, but this is one of the first times to ever see one semi close...



But wait...someone isn't too friendly and effortlessly races towards the osprey



It just got even more crowded...now she's cut off...evasive maneuvers!



Lets see if this works (eagle #2 is on the far cropped edge of the frame)



The rear's covered...and the one in front is quickly closing in



With time running out she pulls a hard turn and gets out of there, flying straight towards me, the eagles both content to keep the osprey out of their territory.



As she flew towards me I managed to catch everything, including the less then 20 feet away landing in the lone tree near me in this series. http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/644601

Sorry if you're expecting a little bit more close contact, but this one didnt get too violent...still one heck of a sight to watch. Shot at 200mm and the image quality wasnt the best so I couldnt get in too close...

Nice series. The eagles don't want the osprey to leave, they want the osprey to do all the work. And then they swoop in and take the prise. Eagles are actually very lazy birds.

Keith

#1 - Excellent example of how the osprey turns the fish into the wind. Love that.

I always wonder if these animals are the same ones I watch here:

http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/camhtm2.html

http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/camhtm.html

Thanks Keith, and what a fitting mascot for the entire US then if that's the case.

Thanks Gary, and I hadnt noticed the fish was angled like that til you said something, pretty neat.

As far as the cameras watching the nests go, I've seen one of the nests and the other nest appears to be in the woods, so i'm not sure where that one is. There is an overwhelming number of ospreys and nests at this refuge, easily 6 or 7 within site just from the road. Of the shots i've posted i'd say it's likely not the ones in the nest near the field, as both of them remained around the nest for the time being while I was there. The seconds nest i'm not as sure about, I didnt really see this guy go back to a nest.

WOW what a catch. My husband & I are most happy you shared this with the forum...


Congratulations

Lil