The osprey eats fish that it captures live in stunning plunges from high over the lake. Not every such plunge is successful. This one wasn’t.
Sometime during this osprey season, I would like to take good pictures of the whole sequence: hover, plunge, enter water, fly off with fish. For now, today’s sequence of five pictures is as good as I have managed.
A circling osprey has spotted something. It slows in anticipation of its dive by dropping its legs (to increase drag) and extending its alulae (to maintain lift).
The plunge is more or less of a blur.
The osprey enters the water and stays under for at least two seconds.
The osprey emerges, but it is still not clear if it caught the fish.
Alas, it flies off with empty claws. Both it and I will try again.
Some things are worthwhile and this is one of them.
Thank you. Certainly, to me, it is worthwhile.