Pandion haliaetus
The Osprey occurs throughout the world, on every continent except Antarctica. In South Africa Ospreys are rare, and any sightings we have of them are always a thrilling surprise whenever and wherever we’re lucky to find them. Feeding almost exclusively on fish snatched from the water, Ospreys are found in close association with natural and man-made lakes, rivers, estuaries and along the coast.
Most Ospreys seen here in South Africa are visiting summer migrants arriving from October and departing again by May, though there are records of birds staying through winter and even a few attempts at breeding. They’re usually seen alone, but have been found in groups numbering up to five on occasion.
The IUCN considers the Osprey to be of least concern.
de Wets Wild 
Your header photo captures the magnificence of the bird! We have seen an osprey on several different visits to Mkhuze at Nsumu Pan and many years ago at Ndumu.
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Those watery reserves would be excellent places to find these rarities in our country
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So ‘n pragtige voel. Ons het hulle daar in Mtunzini gesien.
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Ons was ook nou al n paar keer gelukkig om hulle daar te sien!
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😊
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This bird is very popular in USA. they are expert when fishing, I’ve seen them many times. Nice post, D. 🙂
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Thanks, H.J. Here they are much rarer than in your part of the world, so I am glad to know that despite their relatively high numbers they’re still appreciated in the USA!
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One of my favorite birds! I always marvel at how close they build their nests to freeways, unlike many other raptors.
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That is very interesting, Siobhan!
I wonder why they’d tolerate closer and more human activity than other raptors do? Is it perhaps that, being fish-eaters, they were not treated with the same disdain historically that those kinds of raptors that might go for poultry and small livestock would have been exposed to, and so they don’t fear humans to the same extent?
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That could be. They’re an adaptable species. Glad you get to see them too. 😁
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Many thanks, most interesting article and pics!
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Thank you, Joep!
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Lieflike foto’s.
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Baie dankie, Toortsie!
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Another magnificent bird I am yet to see – lovely coverage you have given it here.
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Thank you very much, Anne, Finding them in our country needs more luck than wisdom, and we’re glad we were lucky on a few occasions.
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Het jy hom self gesien en afgeneem? Waar was dit as dit is?
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Inderdaad, Ineke. Hierdie is almal ons eie fotos. Ons was gelukkig om hul in die Krugerwildtuin en Pilanesberg te siene te kry, maar meeste kere wat ons visvalke raakgeloop het was dit in die reservate aan die Natalse noordkus, en spesifiek iSimangaliso (St. Lucia) en Umlalazi (Mtunzini).
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Aha dis oulik. Jul is baie gelukkig maar dis ook omdat jul spesifiek uitkyk vir die diere en die natuur.
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Dries–we have so many osprey here–they are wonderful to watch. When we go walking, our eyes are always glancing upward to the sparest trees, because that is where the osprey nests usually are. At one spot, there was a camera set up to give live video of a baby osprey being hatched. Even though they are fairly common here, it is always a thrill to see them.
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I’m really glad to know even where they are common the osprey’s are appreciated, Lois. They’re magnificent birds.
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I’ve only seen an osprey once, at the Preserve many months ago. It was obliging enough to perch on a tree not far away for quite some time while we took photos of it. Of course one “real” photographer sneered a bit at shots of it merely sitting, telling me about the more active shots he’d taken. I just nodded and enjoyed the moment. 🙂
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What a wonderful opportunity, Janet, and as we also so rarely get the chance to see Ospreys I can well imagine how thrilling it was for you to finally see one!
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