This End Up | Phil Lanoue Photography

This End Up

Yesterday afternoon I saw this osprey pluck out a fish from far off in the marsh and fly off with it. The osprey turned and flew in my direction and I grabbed some photos as it went by. When I looked at the first picture later, I noticed that the osprey was flying with it’s wings in the normal position pointed down, but it’s head appeared to be turned and looking up! Maybe it was keeping an eye out for the eagle who is well known for chasing an osprey to take away it’s fish. Actually, I think the osprey was probably shaking water off of itself, they will often do that while in mid air.

44 thoughts on “This End Up”

Susan Sohl on March 8, 2013 at 2:44 pm said:

cool!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 9, 2013 at 9:34 am said:
  
  Thanks Sue!
  
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joserasan66 on March 8, 2013 at 3:09 pm said:

Eso Si Es Comer Pescado Fresco… Una Vez Más Muy Buena Serie… Un Saludo.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 9, 2013 at 9:43 am said:
  
  Sí pescado muy fresco! Gracias a ti soy feliz te gustan estas fotos
  
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mike585 on March 8, 2013 at 3:21 pm said:

Tremendous images, Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 9, 2013 at 9:35 am said:
  
  I appreciate you looking and commenting Mike.
  
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janmasyn on March 8, 2013 at 3:25 pm said:

Awesome shots Phil. Excellent job, as usual. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on March 9, 2013 at 9:35 am said:
  
  Thank you Jan, I appreciate you checking them out.
  
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Simone Lipscomb on March 8, 2013 at 3:39 pm said:

Great shots!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 9, 2013 at 9:35 am said:
  
  Thanks very much, glad you like them!
  
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adinparadise on March 8, 2013 at 5:43 pm said:

He does look very focused, alert and determined. That’s quite some fish he caught. Do you think it would still be alive at this stage? Great pics again, Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 9, 2013 at 9:37 am said:
  
  I think the fish is quite likely still alive Sylvia, if you look at the second pic the fish looks like it is still wriggling it’s tail fin. 😯 Thanks much and glad you liked these osprey photos!
  
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Sally Wood on March 8, 2013 at 8:22 pm said:

Great photos Phil!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 9, 2013 at 9:37 am said:
  
  Thanks a bunch Sally, I’m happy you enjoyed these!
  
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Dusty Roads on March 8, 2013 at 9:16 pm said:

Amazing shots as always. Love your work

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- Phil Lanoue on March 9, 2013 at 9:38 am said:
  
  Well I really appreciate your kind words, thanks!
  
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  - Dusty Roads on March 9, 2013 at 9:39 am said:
    
    🙂
    
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Gunta on March 9, 2013 at 12:44 am said:

Great shots! Did you ever see this video? http://wp.me/pXX8J-1Nv (speaking of shaking off the water)

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- Phil Lanoue on March 9, 2013 at 9:41 am said:
  
  Thanks much Gunta! Yes I have seen that video, amazing.
  I know you remember this shot from back in Nov.
  https://phillanoue.com/2012/11/04/shaking-off/
  
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  - Gunta on March 9, 2013 at 3:59 pm said:
    
    Thanks for the link to that one. I truly enjoyed seeing it again! It’s just too amazing!
    
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meyer23 on March 9, 2013 at 6:15 am said:

As always: Great shots.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 9, 2013 at 9:41 am said:
  
  Thanks very much!
  
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Cindy McIntyre on March 9, 2013 at 7:24 am said:

Excellent – the first one looks like he’s in the process of turning the fish around headfirst. They do that because it’s more aerodynamic, apparently.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 9, 2013 at 9:41 am said:
  
  Thank you for looking and commenting I truly appreciate it!
  
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Diana on March 9, 2013 at 8:20 am said:

Again, great shots!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 9, 2013 at 9:42 am said:
  
  Thanks Diana, I appreciate it!
  
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monisertel on March 9, 2013 at 9:10 am said:

Hi Phil,
awesome and amazing shots, great work!
Wish you a nice weekend,
moni

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- Phil Lanoue on March 9, 2013 at 9:42 am said:
  
  Thank you very much moni!
  Enjoy your weekend!
  
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FeyGirl on March 9, 2013 at 11:41 am said:

fantastic shots…. LOVE osprey! just lovely creatures.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 10, 2013 at 2:03 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much! Yes the ospreys are very cool birds, I enjoy watching them.
  Saw one get jumped by two eagles for it’s fish yesterday. The fish was dropped and everybody lost out.
  
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Maggie Davey on March 9, 2013 at 1:36 pm said:

What beautiful pictures Phil! The lat time I saw ospreys was in our glorious Lake District, in NW England. Ospreys migrate to and from here to Africa. Do yours migrate, or are you lucky enough to have them all year round?

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- Phil Lanoue on March 10, 2013 at 2:05 pm said:
  
  Thank you Maggie I am so happy you liked the osprey photos!
  Ours do migrate to some extent, they are just now starting to come back into our area. We will have them all Spring and Summer and into early Fall and they move on for the winter. We are glad to see some returning now.
  
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Bella Remy Photography on March 9, 2013 at 11:02 pm said:

These are crazy amazing images Phil.You never blow out the whites which is just brilliant. Have to say the first two made me think of the Exorcist. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on March 10, 2013 at 2:08 pm said:
  
  Thanks a million for your kind words Emily and I appreciate you noticing the exposures on the whites. I try hard to maintain feather detail in the white birds but it’s not always easy. Black and white birds like skimmers are super hard. If you expose for the white, their black faces can go way dark.
  Bald eagles can be tough too. The difference between the white heads and dark wings can cause problems.
  This osprey does have some odd head positions doesn’t he?! 🙂
  
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niasunset on March 10, 2013 at 3:33 pm said:

Oh my dear, This is amazing moment that you captured. As always great shots. Thank you, love, nia

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- Phil Lanoue on March 11, 2013 at 2:39 pm said:
  
  Thank you very much for your kind comments Nia!
  
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Chillbrook on March 10, 2013 at 3:48 pm said:

Incredible sequence Phil!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 11, 2013 at 2:39 pm said:
  
  Thanks Adrian! I’m glad you enjoyed the osprey!
  
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Molly Argo on March 10, 2013 at 6:03 pm said:

Wow! Not only are the photos fantastic but your panning skills blow me away!!

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- Phil Lanoue on March 11, 2013 at 2:40 pm said:
  
  Well thanks very much Molly, I really appreciate the kind comments!
  
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Andrew on March 15, 2013 at 12:24 am said:

Astonishing shots Phil. I have seen birds talon grappling before but not one in this odd position. Great catch.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 16, 2013 at 3:53 pm said:
  
  Thank you Andrew, I really appreciate you looking and commenting.
  
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drawandshoot on March 16, 2013 at 4:21 pm said:

Incredible series. Really, quite outstanding.

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- Phil Lanoue on March 19, 2013 at 10:00 am said:
  
  Thanks a million Karen!
  
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