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Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Eagles

So - back to the eagles.


On our ride last weekend we headed for one of our favorite bird areas - Bow and Edison - about 20 miles south of here.  It is flat farmland and lots of chances for hawks and eagles. Often we'll see cars pulled over to the side of the road and of course we have to stop and see what they have found.  They are almost always friendly and helpful, pointing out to us the birds they are seeing.

This past weekend we found a couple that was not in the friendly mode, as soon as they saw a car pull up behind them they would whirl around and point their cameras in the opposite direction, even though we could see swans and a heron behind them.  Once we found the birds they turned back around and resumed taking pictures - but another car pulled up and they whirled around again - trying to confuse the new people.  What???  Did they think that anyone else taking photos of the same birds would make the birds disappear bit by bit until there was nothing left to take a picture of?

We sat and watched them for quite a while - and each time they would repeat their same action - even though others were pointing their cameras toward the birds and everyone could see that.  They sometimes would shout out "Look over there!!!!"  Pointing excitedly where there were no birds at all - and then when they were satisfied that they made one or two of the people along the road look away from the swans and herons, they'd go back to taking pictures of the swans and herons.  We never did figure them out - but it was entertaining. 

Ok - NOW back to the eagles.


Just on the edge of Edison is a house with some big trees in the side yard.  We've seen eagles in this tree in other years.  Before the trees leaf out is the best time for seeing the eagles.
Seven eagles in a tree - this is more than we saw last year.  Lots of people were pulling over to take pictures and just to look.



Bald Eagle adult on the right - juvenile on the left.



Farther down the road - one shot of a hawk on a pole - and then it was gone.  Any ideas on what kind of hawk?

Great bird day!





21 comments:

  1. It is always wonderful to see the eagles. And a nice hawk sighting. Great photos.

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  2. That is just amazing so many Eagles in one tree, it may be a Red-tailed Hawk.
    All the best, Gordon.

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  3. All I can say is WOW....definitely as SCENE through your eyes too. My goodness.

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  4. Hello Joann..I appreciate having you link in this week to Nature Notes. My husband really wants to visit Alaska and my best friend did last year and loved it. I have never seen an eagle in person. Great captures. I am not good on hawks and don't know what you have in that area.. Michelle from Nature Notes...

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  5. how exciting to be near these majestic raptors; you got a nice series

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  6. Beautiful! It feels good to see bald eagles enjoying their freedom. I've only seen them in zoos, behind bars. How interesting to see the group of them in different stages of life all in one tree. But the crazy people who don't want to share birds with their fellow nature lovers? Omgoodness! It takes all kinds, doesn't it? I would have yelled out - "LOOK! A MOOSE! a BIG one! OVER THERE! - oh too bad, you missed it! I got the BEST pictures ever! Good bye!"

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  7. A quick look in my Birds of the Puget Sound Region book makes me think it's a rough-legged hawk. They have those white heads with a dark eye line and mottled shoulders.

    Amazing eagle shots. And bizarre people.

    (Loved your comment about leaving random angels around. A very sweet public service!)

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  8. What an interesting couple you observed. The eagles are so majestic sitting in the leafless tree. A great time of year to observe them.

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  9. What freaks they were, who dose that? Such lovely birds you found.

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  10. How fun to see that many eagles in one tree. I have only seen eagles at a rapture center...never in
    the wild. What was with those weird people.

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  11. Lovely photos of the eagles - we actually saw a Bald Eagle when we were in New Orleans. First time in all my visits to the US. And what very silly people - I wonder what they thought they were achieving apart from making themselves look stupid?

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  12. Great shots of the Eagle Tree. Ha we posted the same.
    People can be so weird can't they. MB

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  13. wow- absolutely amazing shots!

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  14. Absolutely wonderful images. Visiting from ZIZO

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  15. how wonderful to see so many eagles - a real treat

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  16. Oh how lovely - seven at once - a family?

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  17. Great post! Birders can be just as interesting to observe as birds. :)
    Not sure about your hawk i.d. Possibly a Swainson's Hawk?
    Very nice series of images!

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Thanks for stopping by for a visit - I always enjoy hearing from you!