OSPREY WITH CATCH . . . I spent yesterday at J DING DARLING WILDLIFE REFUGE on Sanibel Island, Florida. What a beautiful place! I would highly recommend it to any photographers visiting the Ft Myers, Florida area or anyone who just wants to see some spectacular wading birds and wildlife.

My sister-in-law and fellow photographer Deena Westberry and I opted to drive the 5 mile route through the preserve. She happens to have a hybrid vehicle which is so quiet when running on battery power the birds were not in the least disturbed as they didn't hear us at all. There is the option of biking or walking the path if one chooses. There are numerous areas to pull off to the side, park and walk if one chooses as we did many times.

I am sure I will be uploading these images for some time as I captured many more than I care to count this morning!

This Osprey dived down, caught the fish it is carrying and flew right toward me. I mean RIGHT AT ME! I thought at one point I would have to duck, caught me totally off guard. We were on the third deck of an observation tower at the time. At the last minute it shot up to the roof where it landed and ate its lunch. I am thrilled I got the 5 or 6 images I did as I was totally taken aback. Everyone around me was shouting "Did you get the shot? Did you get it"!

Osprey are numerous at the preserve as they are most places in Florida, but this was an event of a lifetime for me!

Thanks for looking and God bless,
Patti

Tags: Osprey Wildlife and nature

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