When BD and I are out on the boat we are always looking for Eagles and Osprey. They are plentiful here and if the trifecta occurs… we are paying attention, I have brought the ‘Big Boy’ lens (Tamron 150-600mm) with me, and we spot one in a stable location… then we will stop and take pictures until I can’t hold up my camera anymore!
I’m not always successful but today was a good day! So, as long as you don’t get bored with tons of pictures and you like the American Bald Eagle then today is a good day for you too!! I have also included a science lesson at the end for those with inquisitive minds.
We came across two adult and one juvenile Bald Eagle today. I’m not sure if the one on the shoreline is injured or if he was just wet and drying off. We followed him when he flew off at a safe distance, maybe too safe and thought we had found him again. But now that I look at the two adults I am pretty sure they are different.
The juvenile (s?) seemed to be flying about near the adults in both locations but I only got this guy at the second locale. We do try not to distress the birds by moving in too close or moving around too much (as much as that is possible on a boat) so these are not only taken with a long lens fully extended but also have been cropped.
Bald Eagle #1
We were not sure what was going on with this guy. He seems to have some roughness on his chest and some sort of bug or something on his throat or upper chest. He wasn’t fishing, just drinking the water. There was the other eagle, which we later identified as a juvenile, that he seemed to be ‘avoiding’. When he took off he stayed really close to the water and skimmed away and around the rocks into the next cove.
Bald Eagle #2
This is the Eagle we found around in the next cove. While we were watching him the juvenile flew up and landed in the tree. Again, we thought it might be a Golden Eagle or an Osprey as the Bald Eagle seemed a bit agitated. I think this may be a different Bald Eagle because the feather pattern on his wings looks different and there is no rough feathers on his chest.
Juvenile Bald Eagle
And here he is! He stayed pretty well hidden and blended well with the trees. We couldn’t even find him (or the other?) at the first location even though we did see him fly into the trees. Seriously, I have no idea if these are the same birds or not, I’m just glad to have gotten some pics of them!!!
And here is your science lesson for the week. Check out this “little” guys eye. That is called a Nictitating Membrane. This translucent membrane slides across the eye every three or four seconds to keep it clear of dust and to moisten the eye. It makes you wonder why I’ve never been able to photograph it before today doesn’t it! Anyway, back to our eagle’s eyes… full grown eagle’s eyes are about the same size as human’s eyes but their vision is four times sharper than that of a person with perfect vision…. hence, I can only presume, the term, ‘eagle eye’!