It was one of those days on the dam where you, as a guide, breathe a big sigh of relief when the guests get on board displaying a bird book because there is not going to be much else (apart from great beauty) out there. Wind, waves (even the hippos sleep deep to avoid the rough) and cool means few of the big and hairys will be out on the shore.

Anway the guest were enjoing just being out there and oohing and aahing over the featherd kind - although we did not see anything spectacular untill right near the end of the cruise. Suddenly the one guest shouts "Is that an Osprey? I have never seen one" with great excitement.

Truly it was an Osprey trying to hunt in those conditions, poor thing. We watched it cruise past us diving and missing a catch every now and again. As it moved into the distance my guests went "That was so special. I whish we could do it again". In a moment of madness (probably due to my "empty nest syndrome" - the tawny chick has well and truly flown the nest) I decided to try and replicate the experience for them and turned the boat  heading for deep water and picking up speed well away from shore to avoid disturbing anybody/thing. We belted back up the dam and got well ahead of the osprey, parked the boat and the bird obligingly repeated the experience once again for the guests.

• 02/03/2010 14:27 - Power and beauty in Flight
• 21/02/2010 19:24 - Photo Contest #15 Winners!
• 21/01/2010 14:15 - Empty Nest Syndrome
• 20/01/2010 16:59 - Photo Contest #14 Winners!
• 16/01/2010 13:08 - Interesting behaviour and updates
• 14/01/2010 20:25 - Rietvlei Nature Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa
• 02/01/2010 20:45 - A Bogey Bird, Eagles and a Hole in One
• 01/01/2010 11:50 - The Race to 200