Fish Dinner: Osprey Swoops To Seize Prey

By Amanda Stringfellow @amanda_l_s

WILD ospreys snatch fish from a loch in rare photographs of the British bird of prey

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Winged wonder: The photographs capture the rare spectacle of hunting ospreys

Beady eyes fixed on the water, one hunting bird dives silently and hooks the fish with its talons - before rising again in a spray of water.

Wet feathers: One bird of prey exits the water in a cloud of spray

Photographer Alan Jones, 75, captured the stunning images from hides situated by the water near Aviemore, Scotland.

Alan, from Cheshire, spent up to five hours a day in the hides for a total of five days, waiting to catch a glimpse of the protected species.

Fresh fish: An osprey rises from the water with its prize

The wildlife photographer said: “Ospreys start hunting for food at daybreak, so you have to be in the hides before light, that’s before 5am in Scotland in August.

Alan entered the hides before 5am to capture the images ...

... the birds of prey finished hunting before 9am each day

"None were seen hunting after 9am in the morning - maybe because by that time there are people around.

Patience: Alan waited for hours to capture a few seconds of excitement

"To capture an osprey hunting and taking a fish is just sheer exhilaration. Hours and hours of waiting then a few seconds of excitement when you have to use all your technical skill to get the shots.

Feathered predator: Stretching its wings an osprey takes the fish from the water

"Birds are flying creatures, and so shots in flight capture the lifeblood of the living bird.

"Capturing crisp images of birds in flight is probably one of the most difficult technical challenges in photography.

Mirror image: The outline of the magnificent bird is reflected in the water

"The birds dive in from height at great speed and from any direction, the photographer has to pick the osprey up in the long lens and keep it focussed all the time as it is on the move decelerating and accelerating away.

“Very few people have ever seen an osprey, let alone one catching its prey."

The osprey is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is an offence to intentionally take, injure or kill an osprey or to take, damage or destroy its nest, eggs or young.

To intentionally or recklessly disturb the birds close to their nest during the breeding season is also an offence.