Osprey

I've seen him up on this traffic light pole several times before, that's where he likes to eat the fish he's caught from the lagoon below...I knew I'd catch a shot of him eventually...I guess today was my lucky day!

I just learned from a nature photography friend that this is actually an Osprey, not a Red Tail Hawk...changed the caption to reflect that.

[Red]

A wonderful great capture. Where was this captured?

[Karen H]

Fantastic, fish and all. Not luck, persistence, it's called being a good photographer.

[Kerri]

Beautiful bird

[Patty]

Red - this is in Cardiff California. There's a little lagoon that runs along side the Pacific Coast Highway.

Kerri - thank you!
@redical1 @kerristephens

[Patty]

Karen, thank you for your compliment! I've been in such a photography funk this past week, that catching him today really re-energized me!

@tigerdreamer

[Harriet]

A really nice capture! It's always rewarding to get a shot of a hawk, and this is a nice one. Nice that you were able to figure out where he liked to have lunch, that always makes for better pictures. I see red tails often, but they are usually soaring high overhead.

[Mike]

Sometimes better lucky than good. Awesome capture.

[BeckyS]

Awesome!

[Yvonne]

That is so cool. I bet you were so excited!!!! Great capture.

[Bill]

fantastic shot

[jerry plume]

Wow! This is crazy! Awesome capture!

[Sassik]

Way to go! That's how great captures come to us! The fish is really fresh :D

[Al Perry]

Awesome shot here Patty. I see hawks in my area just never been able to get a great shot like this. Well done.

[Michelle]

Wow. What an fantastic way to capture him! Well done!

[TC]

Great capture - Patience paid off!

[Sharon]

What a magnificent bird and such a great capture of him. Well done!

[Livia]

He is very attractive! And that looks like a big fish he's eating. A fantastic capture. 8)

[Patty]

Thank you all so much for your comments, I couldn't believe my luck on this one! And I actually have about a dozen good shots of him. :-)

@mtngal @mikehamm @beckys @yonnie @billjohnson @orangecrush @sassik @hollandcrew @mstipe @tctime @purdey @myautofocuslife

[Jason Daniels]

Have you watched them fish? The Osprey will submerge itself in the pursuit of a catch, unlike other Eagles which only catch with their talons at the surface. Fantastic hunters!