Osprey, also known as a Fish Hawk with a freshly caught Alewife, which is a type of herring. Phippsburg Maine.
These photos were all taken within five minutes of one another. I was sitting at the mouth of the Kennebec River where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Popham Beach.
Bald eagle, adult chasing an Osprey with a fish, off from Popham Beach, Phippsburg Maine
I felt sorry for the poor fish. That's a long way to fall!
A Double-crested cormorant was flying by. They were also there to catch fish, but they don't steal from others for their dinner.
Herring gulls and Harbor seals, Phippsburg Maine. The gulls had chased an Osprey with a herring, also known as Alewife, until the beleaguered raptor dropped the fish. Then, the gulls fought each other for the purloined catch. One of them was able, miraculously, to snatch it from the drink and take off with it. The Harbor seals watched. They were busy catching their own fish and wondering if someone might drop some fries into the water to go with it. No Grey Poupon served here, only tartar sauce!
FLYday is an homage to what our feathered friends do best, fly.
(It seems fighting, feeding and filching are high on their lists, too!)