What kind of bird is this?

[Ozzy]

I went on a kayak trip yesterday, I saw a lot of birds, bald eagles, pelicans, herons, etc.

I got some pics of this bird that I'm not sure what it is. I think it's a falcon, maybe a peregrine.

Anybody know for sure?

These are not great pics, but they were taken at 12x zoom from a moving kayak.

 

[Pyro]

Looks like an osprey to me

 

[elgecko]

It's a type of Osprey - Pandion haliaetus.
I got a pic of 1 in the Pine Barrens last year.
http://www.terraforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108970&highlight=pine
Post #3 - 4th picture down.

 

[Not a Number]

Looks like it has a fish so maybe an osprey aka "fish hawk"

http://www.carolinaraptorcenter.org/osprey.php

 

[DroseraBug]

Yup, agree on Osprey I.D.

 

[PlantAKiss]

Osprey. Awesome photo! How lucky you are. You get to see all kinds of cool stuff.

 

[Ozzy]

There are plenty of rivers around richmond, buy a kayak. Then you can see the things I see.

 

[Fryster]

........now WHO can identify the fish species??

 

[Ozzy]

It's a mullet. I saw it floating before the bird grabbed it.

 

[herenorthere]

It's too bad Rachel Carson interefered with people's God-given right to spray DDT anywhere and everywhere. If she would have kept quiet, we wouldn't have to see all these *&^% raptors lording around like they own the place. I saw a bald eagle in a tree between the highway and river in downtown Springfield, MA a week ago and it had that same arrogant expression. @#$% environmentalists!

 

[Ozzy]

I saw about 5 bald eagles on this same trip. When I get the pics done, I'll post them.

 

[DerbyCityNeps]

i contest and say its a Thunder bird

Alex

 

[Ozzy]

It is on the same river that I took the pic of the thunderbird.

 

[PlantAKiss]

It's too bad Rachel Carson interefered with people's God-given right to spray DDT anywhere and everywhere. If she would have kept quiet, we wouldn't have to see all these *&^% raptors lording around like they own the place. I saw a bald eagle in a tree between the highway and river in downtown Springfield, MA a week ago and it had that same arrogant expression. @#$% environmentalists!

There are plenty of rivers around richmond, buy a kayak. Then you can see the things I see.

No, if I had a kayak I would be seeing muddy weeds, roots, maybe a few fish...cuz I'd be upside down in the river. I don't get in anything wobbly...swimming is not my forte. (Although I have won a noodle pony race before.)

Alex might be right...it might be a Thunderbird.