Photo of Another Dam Osprey in Flight

Camera: Pentax K1

Lens: Pentax 300 MM + 1.4 HD Rear Converter - Focal Length 420 MM

Exposure:  f/7.1   1/6400   ISO 800

Location: Kin Dam, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  NOV 7 2015  2:43 PM

Today's Bird of the Day - Osprey in Flight

Over Nagahama Dam

Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) leave Okinawa during the hottest part of the year.

They're back now and this is the first keeper of a shot, I've gotten this Autumn.

The rascal, wouldn't fly out in the blue skies, where I wanted it to be.

So, the image is a bit overexposed, giving a white background for my bird collection.

Camera: Pentax K1

Lens: Pentax 300 MM + 1.4 HD Rear Converter for a Focal Lenght of 420 MM

Exposure:  f/5.6   1/1000    ISO 400

Location: Nagahama Dam, Yomitan, Okinawa

Date and Time:  NOV 6 1017   11:26 AM



More Osprey Images

Wildlife Image -- The Bird Known as an Osprey in Flight

Flying Over Kin Dam

The plan for today, was to take a different route and, skip going to the dam.

Headed to the Okukubi River and,  I wanted to start on the east side for the best light.

Crossing the Kin Bridge, I spotted some osprey flying so, hung around awhile.

Satisfied, I had taken a couple of good shots, off to the other end of the bridge I went.

On a hill across the river, dangerously close to a ledge, I noticed someone standing.

The thought had occurred to me, "Shoot the guy; it's an interesting image."

But, I didn't. I was out , to do some wildlife photography; not people.

Three quarters of the way, crossing the span, this guy started waving, frantically, at me.

He wanted me, to come over there and, motioned towards the road leading to his location.

By the time, I arrived at the path, going to his property, he was at a gate, waiting for me.

It was then, I realized, I had met him a few years ago.

He invited me in, opened several gates and, gave me a tour of all his land.

First, he told me, the ospreys happen to be living on his property. Wow. I want to see !

Big Black Dog on a Chain

Being a dog type person, dogs don't scare me.  Unless they are big and growling, at me.

"Does he bite?"  "No, not if, you're with me" he replied. The dog just, kept growling.

Then, we had to go visit some baby goats and their mothers. That was fun. I suppose.

We wound up, walking through a couple of gates, where everything was fenced off.

Finally, we got to the cliffs. I was hoping, he'd show me where an osprey nest, might be.

He just said, he didn't know but, they come around here every year. That's it ?

Being a polite person (momentarily)  I thought it might be a good idea to change the subject.

So, I told him, this month there will be a humongous full moon.

Then, he walked me to the eastern cliffs, to show where the moon rises.

He scampered up this pile of dirt, near the cliffs, to show me, the best position.

Dude, "You're wearing boots. I'm not climbing up there wearing flip-flops."

He agreed, shima zori (flip-flops) wouldn't be safe, for cliff hanging. Yeah !

Change of Plans

Originally, the idea was to walk the east bank of the river, to the ocean.

High tide would have been around 9:20 AM and, that's what I wanted to see.

After touring all his acreage, we passed through all the wire gates and, said goodbye to the kids.

It was time well spent, I suppose and, I'll probably visit, again sometime.

Instead of heading down to the ocean, I decided to walk around the dam, instead.

By the time, the camera got downloaded, there were over 400 images complied.

Plants, trees, ferns, birds, hills and flowing water, are in the pending files.

Here's how the image above was taken:

Camera: Pentax K1

Lens: Pentax 300MM + 1.4 converter for Focal Length 420MM

Exposure:  f/8   1/500   ISO 100

Location:  Kin Dam, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  NOV 4 2016  8:17 AM

More on Osprey -- Birds

Japanese call this bird, Misago -- ミサゴ

Many Okinawans call it, Taka -- タカ

They are both correct, An osprey, may also be called a sea hawk.

News, to me, in Japan:


Osprey are on the Ministry of Environment Red List as Near Threatened (NT) Species.

Okinawa Red Data Book -- Vulnerable (VU).

REFERENCE: Wildlife of Okinawa

More About the Bird Named Osprey

Facts Collected from the Worldwide Web

 

 

The animals department at National Geographic, tells it like it is.

These birds lay eggs which hatch at different times so, older siblings are more dominant.

That way, when there isn't enough food to go around, the bigger birds get to eat.

And, the little weak ones, starve to death.

All About Birds at Cornell Lab of Ornithology says ospreys are excellent at catching fish.

The average time spent hunting for and, catching a meal is 12 minutes.

That's way faster than most people, I know.

The University of Michigan has an interesting BioKids section.

Here I learned females of this species are larger than the male birds.

These birds usually mate for life -- monogamous.

But, every now and then, a male might become polygynous and, have a few mates.

 At the National Wildlife Federation they talk about these birds diving.

Ospreys are the only raptors to plunge into the water to catch their food.

The website Audubon says, the fish hawk was formerly classified along with other hawks.

But now, the Pandion haliaetus has a family classification of its own.



In Japan the osprey is known as misago (ミサゴ) and, called taka (タカ) by many locals.

10 Images of Osprey Birds in Flight

Over Kin Dam in Okinawa Japan

 

 

These photos were taken over a two hour period this morning.

The Pentax K3 and 300mm lens were used, along with a tripod.

It was 9:33AM when the first subject appeared.

When they fly over water, they are looking for fish.

Catching them with the sun lighting up their eyes can be a challenge.

They eat fish from the ocean or, fresh water.

Ospreys are also known as Sea Hawks.

Pandion haliaetus is their scientific name.

These birds are the only raptors with white bellies.

The white head and brown mask over the eyes makes identification of  this bird, easy.

Ospreys voluntarily, close their nostrils when they dive for fish in the water.

These  birds a third eyelid which is transparent.

This membrane can be closed when under water, serving as goggles, while they catch their prey.

Learn More About Ospreys at Cornell Lab of Ornithology

10 More Photos of the Osprey in Flight

Never Get Tired of Watching These Birds

 

 

Another morning was spent at the Okukubi Dam in Kin Town.

Just about every day this week, I took a walk around the dam with a camera.

There are a few of these birds living nearby and, they fly over the dam, occasionally.

When they circle above the water, they are looking for fish.

The critters aren't necessarily going to pose for a cameraman.

Catching the sun, lighting-up the bird's eye, can be challenging.

Today, the sun shined and the bird flew through some clear blue skies.

Usually, when one of the ospreys, sees me, it quickly disappears.

They probably don't expect to see old men in pine trees.

So, that's where, I was hiding.

The bird put on a fairly good show and, I'm glad I was there watching it.

This series of images were taken in less than one minute.

Camera: Pentax K3

Lens: Pentax F4  DA 300mm

Exposure: f/6.3   1/2000   ISO 200

Date and Time: FEB 21, 2015  11:41AM

Location: Kin Dam, Okinawa, Japan

Bird Photo: Osprey on the Move

Camera: Pentax K3

Lens: Pentax F4  DA 300mm

Exposure: f/7.1   1/1250   ISO 200

Location: Kin Dam, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time: FEB 20, 2015  2:34PM

Osprey in Flight at Kin Dam

These Birds May Live 15-20 Years

 

 

And, I just found out today, they might fly over 150,000 miles in a lifetime.

More facts about Pandion haliaetus at Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Camera: Pentax K3

Lens: Pentax F4  300mm

Exposure: f/11   1/500   ISO 100

Location: Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  FEB 11, 2015  3:09PM

Bird of the Day: Meet the Osprey (Image)

In Japan, this bird is called, Taka, which also translates as, Hawk.

And, in English, some folks call it a Sea Hawk.

The Latin name is Pandion haliaetus.

To me, it is an Osprey but, I try not to use that word around my Okinawan friends.

They get Ospreys confused with some flying machines the military uses to protect them.

The other night, in a barroom discussion, I discovered something.

Most of my English-speaking friends, in Okinawa, never heard of a bird called an Osprey.

So, I decided to post this photo and, a link all about the bird.

And, I will start calling my favorite birds Ospreys, again.

Sea Hawks, they are a ball team, back in Seattle, or somewhere.


 

Learn more about Ospreys Here



Sea Hawks the Birds You Gotta Love Them

 

At an undisclosed location in Okinawa, Japan these birds put on a show today.

Sea Hawks are also known as Fish Hawks, Fish Eagles

and Ospreys but, I don't call them that, anymore because that is like a cuss word in Okinawa.

The scientific name for these birds is Pandion haliaetus.

Just watching them fly is a blast.

They like to eat fish.  And, it doesn't matter if they are fresh or, saltwater fish.

So, you might see them performing their aerial acrobatics over the ocean, a lake, river, or pond.

Any place they can find fish to eat, you will spot them.

 Seeing one of these raptors when they spot a fish and dive is a big thrill.

 That didn't happen today, while I was there.

But, one of the reasons you gotta love these Sea Hawks is what this guy did.

He nabbed a dirty rat and put it out of circulation !

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