Osprey snatch - Paul Hobson - Wildlife Photographer of the Year2008

2008: Behaviour: Birds - Specially Commended

Paul Hobson Enlarge image Osprey snatch

Paul Hobson (United Kingdom)

Osprey snatch

'I lived in a hide overlooking a lake in Pohtiolampi, Finland, for five days, waiting for ospreys to stop off to feed. For four days, the wind blew in the wrong direction, and the birds dived from behind the hide. Only on the last day did the wind change, allowing just this single shot of the osprey I had hoped for.' Ospreys hover over water then dive, plunging into the shallows to grab prey. They have special feet to hold onto slippery fish scales: the soles are covered in spines and one talon can move so the bird can grip either side of the fish. Ospreys are found by rivers, lakes and lagoons all over the world.

Canon EOS-1D Mark III + 300mm f2.8 lens; 1/3200 sec at f5 (-2/3 compensation); ISO 400.

This photograph is available to buy as a print.