Monday, September 14, 2009

Sunday afternoon on the CT River watching Osprey catch a large fish

My morning was to start with a breakfast run to a sick friend, but I found him so ill that I called Rescue and sent him to the ER. Later in the afternoon I took my two dogs along for a walk on the Fort Hill Railroad Trail along the CT River in Hinsdale. It was a brisk bright fall day with a bounty of ripening berries and wild grape in the bushes and trees along the way, but in terms of birding the pickings were slim. I saw Blue Jays, two Gray Catbirds, Mourning Doves and a couple of warblers. Here are photos of a bird that I need some help to identify: an immature mostly green tinged Northern Parula:

Northern Parula

Northern Parula

A Common Yellowthroat, a first winter male:

Common Yellow Throat


Along the river;s edge the Sumac in its full fall color; behind it the Vernon nuclear plant across the river:



On this peacefull Sunday afternoon a man and his dog were fishing.



The tranquility was suddenly interrupted by a tremendous splash. A large bird with its dark wings partially submerged was struggling to rise up and finally broke free of the water. It was an osprey carrying a large fish, that looked like a large catfish to me.



The Osprey with his fish circled once and came back into view:



And then disappeared:



Oblivious to the drama, my dogs Chance and Sasha meanwhile pursued their own agendas.

2 comments:

  1. Wow, that really is an odd Parula.

    And the Osprey pic is spectacular. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  2. great shots! I think the fish is a pickerel or a small pike! awesome

    ReplyDelete

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