On Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:59:34 -0600, rw
wrote:

Opus--Mark H. Bowen wrote:
Is the bird an Osprey? It appears to be grasping with the fish head forward.
I read somewhere, some time back that Osprey are the only birds of prey to
direct fish head forward--aerodynamics, I suppose.

I've actually seen an Osprey do just this on Mountain Island Lake in
Charlotte, NC serveral years ago.

Those are outstanding photos.

Ospreys are very common on the Salmon River near Stanley. You can watch
them fishing while you're eating lunch on the deck at Wooley's. Stocker
rainbows are the perfect size for them -- an osprey all-you-can-eat buffet.

I've seen them, after catching a fish, then catch an updraft over the
town, then circle around to get enough elevation to glide to their nests
at the foot of the Sawtooth Mountains. They always carry the fish head
first, like a torpedo.

Last summer I watched through binoculars two ospreys harassing a bald
eagle up high over the river. It was way cool. Ospreys don't like bald
eagles because the eagles will try to steal their catch.

One time at Henry's Fork Bruce Hopper and I had just waded into the
river at Box Canyon when an osprey plunged into the river about ten feet
from us.

I've seen an underwater video of an osprey diving into a lake. They
actually swim with their wings, and they do it very well.

delurk
I once saw an osprey and a bald eagle engaged in a "dogfight". It
seems that the eagle wanted what the osprey had snagged. By the time I
observed this combat the object of the conflict was gone (probably
dropped). I was enthralled by this aerial combat which I will never
forget. To tell the truth, I don't remember if I caught a fish that
day or not. This was on a lake in the Sierra whilst I was FFing in my
Poke Boat.

Bob