Egypt is a key migration route for birds travelling back and forth from Africa to Europe each year. We travelled to the Red Sea in April to observe the start of the spring migration with birds returning back to their breeding grounds.
Todays image, 054, is an Osprey perched on a flag out to sea. Although not a very attractive perch and taken in very harsh light, it was great to wade out and get really close to such a magnificent creature. I was photographing it for about 10mins altogether, watching it preen and make sure its feathers were in top condition for the flight north. Not wanting to waste its energy, I left it alone to continue preening. A wonderful experience.
Osprey, Pandion haliaetus, Red Sea, Egypt, April, 2009.
Canon 40D with Canon 500mm f/4 L IS lens.
Ian Butler Photography 
That must have been a great experience.
It was. It was fantastic to get up close and personal to a bird that you normally cant in the UK. I couldnt believe how big its feet were!