Few places in North America offer the kind of Osprey photography opportunities found at Lake Blue Cypress in Florida.
Each spring, hundreds of nesting Ospreys gather among the ancient cypress trees that rise directly from the dark, tannin-stained waters of the lake. For wildlife photographers, it’s one of the most exciting places anywhere to photograph Ospreys flying with fish, nest activity, and dramatic sunrise flight photography.
Our mornings start early.
Before sunrise, we step aboard the boat and glide quietly across the still water of Lake Blue Cypress. The silhouettes of massive cypress trees appear in the half-light, their branches filled with Osprey nests.
And everywhere around us are birds.
You hear them first — the sharp whistles of Ospreys calling across the lake as the sky begins to brighten in the east.
Then the movement begins.
Some birds leave the nests to hunt, flying out across the lake in search of fish. Others are already returning. One by one, they appear over the water, wings stretched wide, carrying freshly caught fish in their talons as they fly back toward the nests.
For photographers, this is the moment we’re waiting for.
Ospreys flying past the cypress trees glowing in soft Florida sunrise light, fish visible in their talons, wings fully extended as they glide toward their nests.
Ospreys bringing fish back to the nest.
Parents delivering breakfast to hungry chicks.
Birds soaring through warm golden light with the prehistoric cypress forest as a backdrop.
The photograph above captures one of those moments — an Osprey carrying a fish as it returns to its nest at sunrise over Lake Blue Cypress.
It’s a scene that repeats throughout the morning here, offering incredible opportunities for Osprey flight photography, wildlife action photography, and bird photography in Florida.
Simply put, Lake Blue Cypress is one of the best places in the world to photograph wild Ospreys.
Florida Osprey Photography Workshop — Lake Blue Cypress
If photographing Ospreys flying with fish in beautiful sunrise light sounds like something you’d love to experience, I have two remaining spots available on my upcoming:
Ospreys of Lake Blue Cypress Photography Workshop
April 8–10, 2026
During this small-group wildlife photography workshop in Florida, we photograph from a large, stable pontoon boat exploring the cypress forests of Lake Blue Cypress during the best light of the day.
With a maximum of only five photographers, everyone has space to shoot comfortably and receives personal instruction throughout the trip.
This workshop is designed for photographers who want to capture:
• Ospreys flying with fish
• Osprey nest activity and feeding behaviour
• Osprey flight photography in sunrise light
• Birds perched in ancient cypress trees
• Florida wildlife and bird photography in a truly unique setting
Lake Blue Cypress is often called the crown jewel of Florida Osprey photography, and once you experience a sunrise on the lake surrounded by hundreds of nesting birds, it’s easy to understand why.
Only Two Spots Remaining
At the time of writing, only two spaces remain for this workshop.
If you’ve been wanting to photograph wild Ospreys in Florida, this is one of the most productive and exciting locations anywhere in North America.
You can learn more about the workshop and reserve your spot here:
https://www.chrisdoddsphoto.com/ospreys-galore-photo-tour
I hope to see you on the lake this spring.
I had the pleasure of meeting Chris Dodds a few weeks ago in Florida when I signed up for his Osprey workshop. The sign up process and pre workshop communication was excellent and concise. I must admit that as I drove over from Tampa to the hotel I was a bit uneasy after looking at Chris's images wondering if he was approachable, patient, and a good teacher with someone like me who didn't have a lot of experience shooting wildlife before. We met in the hotel lobby , chatted for 30 minutes or so and thankfully Chris put my concerns to rest. I went to bed that night knowing that the next few days would be an adventure.
I can honestly say that Chris Dodd's workshop for Ospreys far exceeded my expectations. Chris is a great guy, very happy to answer your questions and the best thing of all, fun to shoot with. I learned a lot, met a new friend and best of all was blown away at the quality of my images because of Chris's help/techniques. I cannot wait to meet Chris somewhere else in the wild and experience another awesome outdoor shooting experience. Thank you Chris, I hope to see you again soon!
Mark Weaver Tampa, Florida, USA