Long Reef has been consistently good lately for photographing Ospreys. This visit was a but unusual. I arrived at the headland around 11 am, but did not see any Ospreys until 2 pm. First one was flying around hunting for fish. Then a second arrived, then a third. So it started as a very quiet day, but got a lot better.
When I arrived, another bird photographer was there. Chang La, and he had not been there long and so far had seen no Ospreys. It was ideal conditions for them – a nice breeze and high tide.
We spotted a lot of small back bird far out at sea. Probably Shearwaters.
It was very quiet. Chang La left around 1 pm. About 2 pm I was getting a bit bored, and I started walking up to the lookout for change of scene. On the way up two White-faced Herons flew past. Here is one of them –
And then an Osprey arrived.
It was looking for fish, so I went back down to the lower level.
It was diving on the north side a long way off –
But then came closer –
Now a dive near the island –
It pulled out.
Another dive –
But again it pulled out.
Another try.
Again it pulled out.
Then the second Osprey arrived.
I missed this one’s dive –
The Osprey had missed the fish.
Shaking off water.
Another dive and pull out –
There were now three Ospreys flying high above the headland –
A Caspian Tern flew past. It may have been caught up in fishing line.
The one of the Ospreys flew past with a fish.
It landed out on the island.
The second Osprey seemed interested in sharing the fish.
It flew past –
And some more dives –
Unsuccessful.
Again unsuccessful.
Another dive and pull out –
The Osprey then left the area. So I decided to head home. The last half of my visit had been very good.