Osprey Encounter

Had a recent and second interesting encounter, this time an osprey, which flew in for (our opinion) close examination of our river boat. Near identical circumstance as with our eagle encounter of a few weeks back. Both birds subsist in part on a regular fare of (regularly stocked) golden rainbow trout (aka palomino trout). Our yellow OC1 and the yellow-hued trout are pretty much a matching set. We're convinced that a distant first sight of the vibrant yellow boat, at least at first encounter, locked the birds into immediate predatory response mode. 

We'd been out for a few hours doin' a bit of light play boating interspersed with a short session of casting for rainbows within a bit swift, river side-channel. Afterward, back at the boat launch, we spotted a familiar pair of ospreys. Both low circling the river gorge at near treetop level. Obviously fishing. Always a pair. Been sharing the river with 'em for quite a few years. Bet we've seen 'em a hundred times. Always long distance. Typically never venture nearer than a quarter mile. Maybe an occasional eighth mile. 

As they passed one bird stayed high overhead. Its shadow crossed the ground a few feet away. The second bird remained treetop level, far bank. Once directly opposite shore line, the bird makes a swift turn our direction and comes in rapidly, swooping low to within maybe thirty feet before banking left to down river. Maybe ten feet above water level. It then makes a swift circling cross river return ascent and alights in a large sycamore tree opposite river bank. It sat there perched while rapidly calling for a following half to full minute. Appeared to be a bit agitated. 

Yellow OC1. The osprey's subsequent perch location circled.

This is the best zoom image we could muster totin' a 

compact camera. The osprey circled in image.

(Internet Image)

Osprey plumage

Earlier in the afternoon casting for rainbows. Hooked only one this 

day, that appeared to be a native considering the size. 

Caught 'em on some midge-looking dry fly.

We're stickin' with our yellow river boat theory. This in part after years of additionally observing a type of blue dragonfly (Blue Dasher?) constantly be attracted to each blue trimmed SUP we own. Both on river and lake. They land on and hang out or follow the blue trim craft for miles.