Ospreys at Lake Winni

[Woody38]

Saw a huge bird on the breakwater today. My wife took a picture however at the distance it doesn't show well. It has a head of a hawk and later was seen eating a fish on the breakwater. The only thing I can think of is an Osprey but do not know if they frequent this area. Also Ospreys usually leave around September.
If I can figure out how to post the picture will do.

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I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic

[Hillcountry]

Saw a huge bird on the breakwater today. My wife took a picture however at the distance it doesn't show well. It has a head of a hawk and later was seen eating a fish on the breakwater. The only thing I can think of is an Osprey but do not know if they frequent this area. Also Ospreys usually leave around September.
If I can figure out how to post the picture will do.

--------------------------------------------

I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic

An immature eagle that doesn't have the characteristic, white head would fit that scenario. There should be ospreys on Winni but like hawks I believe they migrate.

[loonguy]

We have seen ospreys and eagles near Lee's Mill on the northeast end of the lake, both in the last couple of weeks.

[ApS]

Ospreys are here at Lake Winnipesaukee, but I hadn't seen one this summer until August 26th.

I saw a small, so probably male, Osprey flying over Johnson's Cove, Wolfeboro.

Overhead, they show a lot of white coloration, even appearing like large seagulls, but with hooked bills and impressive talons. :eek2:

https://friendsoftheosprey.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/OspreyFemale.jpg

Their cry is very distinctive, but considering they're almost the size of an Eagle, that sound is of a much smaller bird. :confused:

Canada has ⅓ of the world's population of Ospreys. Their diet is of fish, and mainly consists of brown bullhead, rock bass, small- and largemouth bass, pumpkin seed, bluegill, white sucker, carp and yellow perch.
https://friendsoftheosprey.org/osprey-facts/

As for migration:

"He's not part of a breeding pair yet, his goal in life is to catch one or two fish a day to survive. He's just bopping around Haverhill and the Merrimack River, learning to hunt for when he is part of a nesting pair. He'll be the main provider, doing all the hunting, while a female cares for any hatched chicks."
http://www.eagletribune.com/news/scientists-unravel-mystery-of-osprey-migration/article_5dd2f390-9855-5c14-9e29-8ec4e20bd504.html

[noreast]

You can see tons of em during fall migration, which varies a little depending where they're coming from. Very likely you saw one, They are much "skinnier" Than Eagles and even hawks, if you see them hunt you will have no doubt what you saw.

[Merrymeeting]

Tracking Osprey's in NH

http://www.nhnature.org/programs/project_ospreytrack/index.php