Osprey Fishing

This Osprey which has just recently returned from West Africa is still hungry from the effort of its long flight

It circles the Hayle estuary passing right over head while on the lookout for some good fishing and it almost stops and hovers whenever it sees a likely fish.

It eventually swoops down in a steep dive and snatched a large Mullet that must have been almost equal to its own body weight and drags it up from the water in its powerful talons.

When the writhing fish is secured by both sets of talons in a classic front to rear formation the bird eventually flies off into a distant treeline to devour its fine catch which will help to rebuild its energy levels for its final ongoing flight to North Wales or Scotland to join other breeding birds.

I felt privileged and very pleased at having the opportunity to watch and capture this Osprey behaviour today as it is a fairly rare seasonal occurrence down here in Cornwall.