Osprey on the Tuolumne Parkway Trail

Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) are a regular sight on the foothill rivers coming off of the Sierra Nevada, but it's always kind of a thrill. I was walking along the Tuolumne River Parkway Trail the other day watching for small songbirds in the trees and all of the sudden I was aware that some kind of very large bird was staring at me. And they have very intense eyes. Luckily, they are far more interested in fish than they are in me!

The river runs low this time of year as the operators at Don Pedro Reservoir upstream are very sparing with their water releases. The water is shallow and clear, so I guess the fishing is pretty good for the Ospreys (and the salmon run will be starting soon).