Eagle versus ......

[boneaddict]

This was fun to watch.   It was a long ways away so I apologize for the footage.  An Osperey is a little bigger than the average blackbird dive bombing your head.

[boneaddict]

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[boneaddict]

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[Austrian Hunter]

cool, what was that little guy try to do Did you get his A$$ kicked?  Thanks for sharing!

[Idabooner]

Great pictures Doug. These species are bitter enemy's as well as being fierce competitors for food.

[bowhunterforever]

Those are some awsome pics

[lokidog]

Nice photos but it looks more like a member of the Buteo family, maybe a Swainsons Hawk.  Osprey have narrower wings than the buteos.  They generally have that very distinctive wrist patch on the underside of the wing.  Did you get any photos of the bottom.

We see the red-tails (also a buteo) harassing the eagles all of the time.

[boneaddict]

Yeah, I got some close ups of him after he gave up and came to a tree on my side of the pond.  I'll bring them up in a bit.

[PacificNWhunter]

Cool pictures!

[DOUBLELUNG]

Yeah, I got some close ups of him after he gave up and came to a tree on my side of the pond.  I'll bring them up in a bit.

I'm going to vote for an accipiter myself - immature goshawk:
[smg id=9560]
Very cool pics!

(I didn't take the above shot, I wish)

[boneaddict]

My flight pics don't show "enough" white to be an Osprey, was my original thought.  Then after closing I was sure it was.  Still waiting for access to my laptop where my pics are at.

[boneaddict]

Here he is up close....

[boneaddict]

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[boneaddict]

Interesting enough, either earlier in the day, or the day before(time kinda runs together) I was photographing this one and a bald eagle flew down the lake and he went after it.  Its the first time I had seen it and I was mad I didn't get it on film.  Then to have it happen again.....
Is this just a more mature version, and the first one is Jr.

[boneaddict]

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[boneaddict]

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[lokidog]

That is definitely an osprey, great pics.  The first could be a juvenile... I would have bet on the wing shape not being an osprey though.  I always enjoy your pictures, thanks for sharing.

[boneaddict]

Thanks.  Funny thing, I was on 500plus speed on the time and half of the pictures didn't stop action.  He was flat smoking on the dive.  The eagle kept backing closer and closer to the trunk of the tree. I knew when the osprey was coming by the reaction of the bald eagle, when I couldn't pick up the incoming bullet.  I was shooting continous frames and he would not be there, be there and then be gone again.   I can't remember what my specs are, but I know its at least 6 frames per second. 

[JackOfAllTrades]

The first could be a juvenile...

Female of the pair? 

There's a nest around that lake somewhere!   Those birds absolutely amaze me with thier 'fishing' skill. I've been skunked on a lake before only to have more than one of them dive from the cliffs above at mach II and show me where the fish were.

Here on the wetside.. We often overlook the beauty of Eagles as they can be just as much of a scavenger as your neighborhood Crow or Seagul. But the hunting skill of the predatory birds is something to take notice of and respect. The flying prowess that a Goshawk, Redtail or Osprey can present is mind numbing.

-Steve

[boneaddict]

If you ever get to examine their armament or business ends on roadkill or something, its amazing.  No, you can't take them home, or keep the parts, but still worth a gander.

[Special T]

I have a buddy that does falconry with a Goshawk... I'd  seen their weapons up close, and i'm just amazed that you can actually "domesticate" a hunting machine like that.... awesome pics thanks for sharing