Photography Musings by Dave: Nesting Osprey

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Nesting Osprey

Nikon D750, Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6e @ 500mm, 1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 800

I was able to spend a little time at Kensington Metropark in Michigan recently and was treated to an Osprey pair building up and reinforcing their nest. The photo above shows the two at rest and is the full view thru a 500mm lens. The images that come after are cropped for a closer view and show one of the Osprey (I'm sure it's the male because right after this series I have another of him on top of the female) bringing a stick to the nest. I've shown them in the order in which they were taken. Do remember to click the images for a larger view.

Nikon D750, Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6e @ 500mm, 1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 800

I spotted him coming in low over the water and saw he was carrying something but because I was concentrating on tracking and keeping the focus point over him I didn't know what it was until reviewing the images on the camera screen. This photo and the one that follows are only lightly cropped because I liked the added interest of the Common Mergansers and Red-winged Blackbird.

Nikon D750, Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6e @ 500mm, 1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 800

Here, he makes a turn to his right where he heads directly to the nest. Note how low he is to the water this whole time.

Nikon D750, Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6e @ 500mm, 1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 800

Now he starts his ascent and offers a nice partial profile for those of us taking photographs of the event.

Nikon D750, Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6e @ 500mm, 1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 800

He's almost there now and gives us a nice frontal view of a fanned tail and spread wings.

Nikon D750, Nikkor 200-500mm f/5.6e @ 500mm, 1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 800

Now here's a profile I really like with a purposeful gaze upon the object of his affection, the upright wings, fanned tail and more building material in the clutch of his talons. The rest of the images

are in sequence until touchdown is accomplished.