Feet first

 

Two views of an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) fishing over the north end of Bodega Harbor on 23 June 2012.

Note the very long wingspan (150-180 cm or 5-6 feet), dark carpal (wrist) patches, long legs, curved talons, and hooked bill.

Osprey are primarily fish eaters.  After hovering above the water, they plunge feet first to capture surface-schooling fish within ~1 meter of the surface or bottom-dwelling species if the water is shallow enough.

Here's another photo from last year (11 March 2011).  Let me know if you can identify the fish!