Evening Catch

An osprey rises out of the Indian River Inlet in coastal Delaware, a fresh catch clutched in its talons. I was camping at Delaware Seashore State Park, and as evening settled in and the tide began to shift, a group of ospreys started circling over the inlet. I grabbed my camera and the longest zoom lens I had with me, then found a spot along the rocky bank to watch for a while. It was a beautiful time of day, calm and golden, with the birds diving one after another into the water in search of a meal.

 

I was firing off shots as best I could, trying to track whichever bird flew into frame. Most of them veered away, but this one came up and, for a brief moment, was angled straight toward me. When I reviewed the burst later, I was happy to see that I had managed to capture part of the action just after its dive.

 

I do not usually photograph birds or spend much time bird-watching, but that evening reminded me how peaceful it can be to sit by the water, watch, and try to capture a small piece of the rhythm unfolding around you.

Done