This Osprey was heading out from his perch into the Gulf of Mexico do do some fishing. He had spent some time watching me from his nest on Rabbit Key in Everglades National Park. These raptors are beautiful to watch and have a unique voice that you identify rather easily. The talons have an outer toe that is reversible, allowing them to grasp their prey with two toes in front and two behind. This is particularly helpful when they grab slippery fish.
Take Off of a Swainson's Hawk
Traveling the 4x4 roads north of the Great Salt Lake in Utah is an adventure. You come across a plethora of wild birds and critters. I photographed this hawk who sat on a fence post watching me create some landscape photographs of the lake. When I turned my attention to him, he decided that the interest had dissipated and he was “out here”. Made for a good “exit” photograph