Osprey nest, uninvited guest

Nest platforms along the coast draw plenty of attention from other birds, and this osprey wasn’t having it — wings thrown up, bill open, calling loudly at another raptor that had strayed too close overhead. The whole exchange was over in seconds, the intruder peeling off without a fight.

Why it matters

Osprey nest platforms, many installed specifically for the species after their population crashed from DDT in the mid-20th century, are now a common and successful piece of coastal wildlife management — but a good nest site is valuable real estate, and established pairs defend it aggressively.

Getting the shot

Caught mid-confrontation entirely by chance while photographing the nest — sometimes the best frame is the one that happens while you’re waiting for something else. Fast shutter and a wide enough frame to keep both birds in it as the second one banked away.