Ospreys at Long Reef – 20 August 2023

I spent a very pleasant day at Long Reef on the Northern Beaches. The main aim was to photograph the Ospreys. I did manage to get some reasonable photos of them, both perched and in flight, but few of them hunting for fish.

When I arrived, at the lookout, I met Eric, another bird photographer that I had seen there on previous trips. After having a chat, I started walking down to the lower level. On the way, through binoculars, I spotted a perched Osprey on the north side of the headland. I walked to the bottom and then walked along the beach to where the birds was perched. As I got closer, I saw there were two Ospreys perched on different trees.

Osprey #1

Osprey #2

This one was a little unsettled, but when it stretched it wings and voided it bowels I thought it pas preparing to take off. I was ready with my camera.

But no take-off. It settled back down.

The other looked settled too, but it did take off for short flight.

It dived down very close to where I was standing.

It must have seen fish, but its dive was unsuccessful.

It circled around and landed on the same perch.

One thing Osprey (and other raptors such as Peregrine Falcons) do is rock their heads back and forth. I am not sure why they do this. Perhaps to clear their ears, or reset their semi-circular canals, or perhaps it has something to do with ranging distant objects? This blogpost supports the ranging view.