Photograph Osprey in Scotland

Posted byMichael CookPosted in1. Scotland & UK, LowlandsTags:, , , , , , , ,
Osprey plunges into dark water, wings spread, capturing prey. Photograph Osprey in Scotland.

I am trying to build a portfolio of classic Scottish species so took a trip back to Trossachs Osprey Hide. This is a great location to photograph Osprey in Scotland. I had booked this workshop with Paul of Touch the Wild.

Contents hide
1 Central location to photograph Osprey in Scotland
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(Update: As of April 2026 The Trossachs Osprey Hide has temporarily closed).

A juvenile Robin kept coming along the front of the hide and provided the first target of the day. Note the changing molt from juvenile to adult.

  • Juvenile robin with mottled brown and orange feathers standing on moss in Scotland.
    growing Robin
  • Young robin perched on mossy ground in Scotland, its orange breast feathers puffed out.
  • Juvenile European robin with orange breast in Scotland. Photograph Osprey in Scotland blog content.

Next up we were delighted to see a Male Kingfisher. First it was in a blackberry bush on the other side of the pool. It was impossible to separate from the background. Then it flew in front of the hide. It briefly landed on a nearby perch. This provided the opportunity for some great Kingfisher shots.

  • Vibrant kingfisher perched on a branch with blackberries in the background.
  • Kingfisher perched on a post, Scotland. Vibrant blue and orange plumage detail.
  • Kingfisher perched on a post, possibly near where one might photograph ospreys in Scotland.

Central location to photograph Osprey in Scotland

Rather than traveling to Aviemore it was good to be so close to home. And it wasn’t long before an Osprey sowed up.

Still buzzing from the Kingfisher, We noted an Osprey was landing in a nearby tree. This was a blue ringed bird, which was a male from a nest near Argaty. As it sat in the tree Paul encouraged me to take some zoom bursts. I set the camera to 1/8 second. I focused on the bird. Then I took a shot while rapidly zooming in and out.

  • Osprey perched in a tree with wings spread. Photograph Osprey in Scotland.
  • Osprey perched in a tree in Scotland, photographed with blue leg band.
    Osprey in tree
  • Photograph of an Osprey in Scotland perched in a tree, looking forward.
  • Osprey perched in a tree, zoom effect. Photograph Osprey in Scotland.
  • Photograph Osprey in Scotland, perched in a tree with motion blur.

This Osprey was a dominant male and typically flew and landed in the same tree. It watched closely for a fish. On spotting one, it would take off from the tree and dive straight down. Before long we had our first dive of the morning. Here are several photos from the sequence I took.

  • Osprey mid-catch in water, wings spread. Photograph Osprey in Scotland.
  • Osprey mid-splash in water, wings spread. Photograph Osprey in Scotland.
  • Osprey taking flight from water in Scotland, wings spread.
  • Osprey catching fish in Scotland, wings spread, water splashing. Photograph Osprey in Scotland.
  • Osprey catching fish in Scotland, wings spread, water splashing.
  • Osprey taking flight from water in Scotland. Photograph Osprey in Scotland.
  • Osprey catches fish in Scotland.
  • Osprey catching fish in Scotland. The bird is lifting out of the water with a fish in its talons.
  • Osprey taking flight from water with fish, photograph Osprey in Scotland
  • Osprey catching fish in Scotland.
  • Osprey photographed in Scotland emerging from dark water with wings spread, water splashing.
  • Osprey catching fish in Scotland, wings spread, water splashing. Photograph Osprey in Scotland.

It was now lunch time. Another lull in activity meant I moved my focus to some lovely Mallard ducklings. They offered a cute study. I first focused on a lone bird…

  • Cute duckling swimming in green water, mouth open, possibly photographed in Scotland.
    Mallard Duckling
  • Duckling swimming, mouth open, reflected in dark water
  • Duckling swimming in water with reeds, open beak. Scotland wildlife.
  • Duckling swimming among green reeds in Scotland. Photograph Osprey in Scotland blog content.
  • Duckling near green reeds in water. Photograph Osprey in Scotland blog content.
  • Duckling near water and reeds. Cute wildlife photo.

…and then took photos of a larger group.

  • Four cute ducklings swim in a pond. Photograph Osprey in Scotland blog content.
  • Three ducklings swimming in pond water, reflections visible.
  • Three female mallard ducks swimming in a pond.
    Mallards

Before long we had another Osprey dive. This was a different bird with a silver ring. It arrived with little notice and quickly dived in a part of the pool behind some reeds. Then it circled around before flying off. It was getting busy and proving the Trossachs was a good place to photograph Osprey in Scotland.

  • Osprey catching fish in Scotland, wings spread, splashing
  • Osprey catching fish in Scotland. Powerful wings create splashes in dark water.
  • Osprey catching fish in Scotland, wings spread, water splashing.
  • Osprey taking flight from a log in Scotland, wings spread wide
  • Osprey in Scotland takes flight from water with fish in talons, wings spread wide.
  • Osprey catching fish in Scotland, wings spread, ready for flight.
  • Osprey in flight with fish, Scotland. Photograph Osprey in Scotland.
  • Osprey in Scotland soars with fish, identifiable by tag 326
  • Osprey in flight with fish, photograph Osprey in Scotland.
  • Osprey in Scotland soars with fish, a stunning photograph.

Not long after we had a third dive, the bird coming in from right to left.

  • Osprey catching fish in Scotland, wings spread, water splashing.
  • Osprey taking flight with a fish in Scotland photograph.
  • Osprey catching fish in Scotland, wings spread, water splashing.
  • Osprey taking flight from a log in Scotland. Photograph Osprey in Scotland.
  • Osprey taking flight with fish in Scotland, wings spread
  • Osprey takes flight from a Scottish loch. Photograph Osprey in Scotland.
  • Osprey catching fish in Scotland. Bird of prey mid-flight over water with a fish in its talons.
  • Osprey in Scotland taking off from a branch over a dark pond, wings spread.
  • Osprey with fish, Scotland. Photograph Osprey in Scotland.
  • Osprey in flight over water, carrying a fish. Photograph Osprey in Scotland.
  • Osprey in flight over water in Scotland, carrying a fish. Photograph Osprey in Scotland.

All in all an enjoyable day photographing Osprey, with the bonus of Kingfisher. For the diving Osprey I was photographing at F7.1 with a shutter speed of 1/1600 and auto ISO with 2 1/3 of underexposure.

If you want to photograph Osprey in Scotland, get in touch with me. I offer private guiding and workshops in Scotland

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Black bird in flight, "Wild Scot" text. Scottish Wildlife Photos.

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Published by Michael Cook

Wildlife Photographer based in Scotland

3 thoughts on “Photograph Osprey in Scotland”

  2. Exciting sequences! The fish look huge, were they trout? The kingfisher is such a beautiful bird, almost tropical in its colouring. Of course, I think the duckling shots are adorable. 🙂

    Reply

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