Snow-capped peaks still dotted the landscape, a strong chill lingered in the air, but already the Ospreys were out collecting materials for the nest they had under construction. I had watched these two regal birds for a number of years now. Every time I passed through the area I would check on the charismatic pair of raptors and was pleased to see today that they were both very active and flying around.

One of the most important skills to hone as a wildlife photographer is the ability to recognize patterns in the behavior of the wildlife you’re observing. Today, I noticed one such pattern. As I watched my favorite pair of Ospreys maintaining their nest, I quickly realized that each time they flew off, they’d return within minutes, carrying a stick or branch and would land back on the nest, always approaching from the same direction. Within minutes this information became a wealth of knowledge as I was able to determine the ideal background and angle at which they would approach the ever-growing nest. Positioning myself accordingly based on my newly acquired knowledge, I had only to wait a few minutes before I saw an incoming Osprey with an old, dried mullein stalk in tow.

The bird was still quite a way out, but approached at a steady pace, and so, I raised the camera’s viewfinder to my eye, locked onto my target and tracked it as it flew. Soon enough, it hovered for a brief second in front of the beautiful snow-capped peak in the background before landing on the nest. Click click click. Observation, pattern recognition and a pleasant photo as a result. Sometimes things just come together nicely!