Osprey

Osprey or Fish Eagle?

My husband calls them Fish Eagles frequently. 

I love to watch them while they are fishing. They have such grace and beauty coming in low just above the water talons outstretched. Barely touching the water, the hapless fish rapidly becomes breakfast or dinner. 

This beauty was photographed by me while out with Chris in the 

kayak up at 5 rivers off the causeway. The 5 rivers park is worth the visit. With static displays and changing exhibits, it is a feast for the senses. The boat launch is a little tricky, but well worth it. Once on the water, you quickly lose sight of the highway and the sounds of the water becomes a wonderful sound. We saw Blue Herons, Green herons, White egrets, Osprey and an alligator. 

I tried to get Chris to paddle toward the reptile, but he was a no go. 

It was the same with the Caribbean reef shark once while we were skin diving in the keys. 

He wasn't going to play the game of capture the photograph!

Oh well, we still managed to paddle toward this osprey right after he got his catch of the day. After taking it to the top of a piling, he rapidly dispatched with the head of the mullet. We got fairly close, but it then decided we wanted a piece of his dinner and he took off. 

That is when I got this beautiful photograph.

This is not our first encounter with an osprey. We went to Ship island one year with the Orr Museum and had a delightful time while on the island. Chris created pottery, and I worked in pastels on sanded pastel board. One afternoon we were walking on the Gulf side of the island and the wind was pretty hard out of the North. We watched as this beautiful osprey captured a huge fish out of the Gulf. It had difficulty picking it up and started to fly back. We stood amazed as this graceful bird was in the fight of his young life to get back to it's nest with babies on the island. Not only struggling with the wind, the seagulls noticed it having trouble flying and proceeded to harass the osprey. 

We thought the osprey was going to lose the battle, getting pushed back 

time and time again, the wind battering the exhausted bird. 

The beauty is the bird never lost it's hold on the prize.

Finally making it back to the nest, it's mate made way for him to land and feed their babies.

Chris and I both finally took a breath and cheered!

Success!

May we all be as tenacious as this bird when battered by the storms this world sends our way!

God willing, I'll always remember the strength and beauty of this magnificent animal. 

It reminded me of Isaiah 40:31

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not grow faint.

Osprey study, Acrylic on deep edge canvas, 8 x10 

Day 38 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2018