An Osprey, Pandion haliaetus, in flight against a clear, blue sky.
This was one of a pair of Ospreys which had made a nest on a beach off Isla San Benitos Oueste, a tiny desert island off the Pacific Coast of Baja California, Mexico.
Ospreys are recorded as ‘common’ off the eastern (Atlantic coast) of Mexico, as well as off the western (Pacific) coast north of Puerto Vallarta. However this was the only pair seen on this trip, although we stopped and walked on a few desert islands and passed many more.
Ospreys are sometimes known as Fish Eagles. They hunt over relatively shallow water, stooping to catch fish with their strong, serrated talons. Then they make sure that the fish is angled head first, streamlined – like a torpedo under their body – when they fly away to eat it or to feed it to their mate or chicks.
This photo is copyright © Liz Leyden, all rights strictly as agreed in writing with the author or her agent.
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