Posted by Larry Manfredi on January 14, 2003 at 08:38:34:
In Reply to: What Say You? posted by Paul on January 14, 2003 at 02:32:59:
: Once again I return to the panel of experts. This predator was sighted repeatedly in the area of Anhinga Trail last week. He was fixated on the first baby anhinga still in the nest. Mom was, of course, fixated on protecting the baby. This bird flew, hovered, and even plunged once and missed. Color was mixed dark brown/black under side, wings darker but some very distinctive white where the wings joined the body. For certain it was not red-shouldered or red tail as no call was heard for over an hour and I know their patterns and habits. Twice this bird also dropped to catch a fish? Almost osprey like. Strange. Color is bad, angle is terrible but it was a hip shot as it passed over. Any ideas. I can accept "insufficient data".
The bird you photographed Paul is in fact an Osprey. It looks very dark at certain angles on my computer screen but I can see all of the Osprey markings. Also the shape of the bird, with long wings and tail plus the shape of the head make it an Osprey. The fact that it was diving for fish sure clinches the I.D. as well.
Larry Manfredi
Homestead, Fl.
E-mail: birderlm@bellsouth.net
http://www.southfloridabirding.com