"OSPREY WARNING"

Bald Eagle (Adult - Female) - 5 Photos

A quiet time out from fishing, before the youngsters arrived to join her and then the eagle went into full alert status, with warning calls & head feathers ruffled.

In this instance, however, the warning was issued for a low flying Osprey, which in fact flew directly over the branch where the eagle was perched and through the tree. (I was concentrating on keeping the eagle in frame but you can just see the Osprey's wing as he/she flew by in the top right corner of Photo #4.)

I am not certain why the Osprey came so close. Generally they avoid Eagles and Eagles ignore Ospreys. Their fishing techniques are different. Eagles skim the water and snatch the fish while Ospreys steep dive at speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour, reorienting, grabbing the fish & taking off from the water. I believe the Osprey was so intent on fishing at the river that the sight of the eagle didn't register.

The position of the eagle against the tree may have contributed as well. When I have spotted an eagle against this particular trunk from across the river, the eagle has become invisible except for the white head, brown body directly up against a brown trunk. Coming in very low from behind, the Osprey may have only seen the tree trunk until the very last minute & then quickly flew up and over.

Several minutes later, the Osprey flew by again, this time at a respectful distance and not an Eagle feather was ruffled. 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5