Our group hiked from our campsite on the bank of the Middle Fork up to the Hot Springs at Loon Creek. It was a pleasant hike on a nice morning, and rather refreshing to take a dip in the warm water that oozed in abundance from the ground and into Loon Creek. We then headed back to the Middle Fork of the Salmon to meet our rafts and guides. While taking in the beautiful scenery, I spotted a bird atop a dead tree across Loon Creek.
Zooming in with my camera, it became clear that this bird was an osprey, or fish hawk, eyeing the water for signs of a meal. Osprey are beautiful birds and superb fishers. They typically live and nest near bodies of water, especially ones with a good fishery like the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. They are large birds, about 2 feet long and with a 6 foot wingspan.
After a minute or so, the osprey flew away. I was lucky enough to catch it as it prepared to launch into the air, and when it actually took wing.
