Last Saturday was a very breezy and cold day, with wind chill temperatures below freezing. It was also low tide when the refuge did not offer its best views.

Most birds were sheltering from the wind and cold, although many Canada Geese were strolling around, showing off this year’s offspring. The Goslings were busy foraging and tasting food.

The Osprey nests were empty at first sight and, for a moment, I thought they had flown to warmer places. However, when looking again, I could see part of a head peeking out from one nest. A female Osprey was chirping, her head clearly visible as she scanned the sky for her mate. I decided to stop and wait, but kept my window closed because of the strong wind.
Suddenly I saw the male Osprey flying in with a fish in his talons. By the time I got the window rolled down and my camera out he was already landing on the female bird.

The next photos show the Osprey mating rituals which lasted less than a minute.




He landed a short distance away, watching her for a few minutes before flying off again, perhaps to find for more fish for her.
You are such a talented photographer!
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Thank you Bonnie!
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Wonderful images Hien! I’m impressed with his gift of a fish. 🙂
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Thank you, Julie! Ospreys work hard for their fish, and when they have young ones, that’s about all they can do, namely fish to feed the growing chicks with voracious appetites.
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The pictures of the Osprey are really amazing.
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Thank you, and I’m glad you think so!
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beautiful collection, Hien!
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Thank you Wilma! Glad you like these photos.
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What wonderful pictures. How lucky you were to see this, but skilled to capture it. With your permission I would like to link this post to an interview I am doing of John Steiner. He wanted to give you a shout out. 🙂
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Sure, no problem. Thank you for commenting!
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You are more than welcome. John thinks very highly of you and I enjoyed your photos, too. 🙂
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Wow amazing pictures Hien, so beautiful!
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Thank you, Marcela!
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Wonderful series of the mating process, Hien!
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Thank you Donna!
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Such wonderful photos despite the cold! I hope you are staying safe and warm.
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Thank you Takami! The cold is not bad unless it is also windy. I also happen to like it that way. 😉
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Wow! I like that the male osprey brough the female a fish! You must have been delighted with these photos!
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Thank you Emma!
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Great action shots, Hien. They are remarkable birds!
I really like that first shot with the winding estuary, it’s very visually appealing.
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Thanks Eliza! Low tide reveals many hidden estuaries like that one.
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The Osprey is a beautiful bird! Well captured Hien!
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Thank you, Aletta!
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Your behavior notes are fascinating, Hien.
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Thanks Michael. I am a layman trying to interpret a bird’s behavior.
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you are lucky to have a refuge close by. Great photos
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Thanks Jim! That refuge is the place I go to most often for nature photography.
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Great photos. I was standing and watching a bird above me the other day. It was soaring higher and higher, sailing the wind, like an Eagle but it had Osprey coloring. Do Osprey’s sail and soar like that?
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Thanks, Katelon, and yes, Ospreys do that when they are hunting for fish.
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The osprey interpretation of dinner and a movie? 😉
Such beautiful images again, Hien. That plump gosling is especially endearing.
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Thank you, Dries! There were many Goslings running around that day, including groups of dozens of them.
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Wonderful to have captured this, Hien — a reward for your frigid spring day.
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Thanks, Jet! That’s why I like spring. I can always find something to photograph.
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The Osprey is one I am still missing in my photogallery…
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Osprey should be present in Finland and Italy. 😉
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Yes. I saw it many times in both countries, but could never capture it. 🙂
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Interesting watching bird behaviour
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It is indeed. Thank you for commenting, Diana!
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Beautiful collection of images!
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Thank you John!
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