We've had a golden eagle hanging around since mid-December, on a pretty much daily basis. Very cool bird, huge. It often sits in a large cottonwood above our pond, I assume watching for spawning salmon. I haven't ever seen it swoop down on anything. Sometimes we have both a golden and a bald eagle on different trees, which surprised me. We also recently got our annual load of starlings, and it is interesting to watch the interaction between the golden and the starlings -- the starlings congregate at the very top of the cottonwood, and the golden sits about 3/4 up. When the starlings get too noisy, the golden half spreads it's wings, which seems to shut them up. Not sure if that's what's really going on, but it appears to be.

Wish I had a camera which would zoom in that far, but alas.

I wish you had a good photo too!! How cool for you though!!

The really nice part was the golden put in a command appearance on a nice sunny afternoon when we had our extended family up for a pre-Christmas gathering. It was especially appreciated by our city relatives who don't often see big birds up close, and the little kids were also suitably impresssed. A little impromptu 'show and tell' for the fam. I'll try to catch iton film, but it will likely be grainy once I enlarge it enough to see what it is. We'll see...

I saw a young Bald Eagle once. It hung out under a bridge in Westport, CT - accross the riuver from a fish store.

It would sit like a statue for 15-20 minutes as smaller birds fluttered around in agitation and gradually returned to the area. Then he would lift off and flap a lazy circle around the bridge and the smaller birds would flee in panic. It took them 15-20 minutes to return.

He became a celebrity in the local paper, and people began flocking there to take his picture. Eventually he moved on.

Here's a not very clear photo of two birds in the cottonwood (open to see them both), and a couple even more blurry trying to zoom in on them. Their heads are lightish, but bald eagles usually have a brilliant white head, which is why I think they may be goldens. Any bird folk out there?

great photos BH! The one looks like an immature bald, the speckled breast gives it away. Can't tell if the other one also has speckling - I think it can take up to 3 years for the immature birds to develop the white head/tail. Very pretty! They're such regal birds!
Thanks

gg5 said:great photos BH! The one looks like an immature bald, the speckled breast gives it away. Can't tell if the other one also has speckling - I think it can take up to 3 years for the immature birds to develop the white head/tail. Very pretty! They're such regal birds!
Thanks

That makes sense, although the birds are huge. But, teenagers often are. I have also seen a mature baldie every now and again, often in the same area as these darker ones. Whatever they are, they seem to have staked out that cottonwood, one or both of them are usually perched in it at least once a day. And I love when they chatter with one another, sounds like a couple of old ladies having tea.

I love that animals have so much personality and that we humans are finally catching on! (it sounds like these are siblings and that the adult is a parent - but just guessing!)

I think Bald Eagles have a real attitude, I took these photos at the lake this past summer. A lone eagle was sitting in a treetop and I was pretty happy to get a decent photo of it, but I was delighted when the second one came to land in the same tree, I presume they were a mated pair.

Here's a photo my cousin is currently using for his FB banner. Very impressive shot!

Margaret and BH OMG these are such amazing photos! Wow!! I love that moon rising in the backround and Margaret, how lucky to photograph such an exchange!!
Thanks!

Very nice, too bad it isn't in a larger size.

Bonehead, we of course have golden Eagles in Scotland, and they are truly beautiful. Plus lots of Peregrine falcons, and red Kites. Buzzards are here as well, do you get them?
Marsh Harriers, Kestrels & Goshawks. Goshawks are my favourite as they eat grey squirrels.
Regards from a very hot England.
Neil.

I never think of England as hot until I read a mystery novel about London and it talks of the heat and humidity.

Mary it is not hot all the time! In fact it is freezing in winter, and wet as well. We are having what we call an Indian summer. This is hot weather with rain as well, mass humidity and tons of weed growth, everywhere.. You wait till it snows and then ice everywhere,
Kindest regards from a hot England.
Neil.

gg5 said:great photos BH! The one looks like an immature bald, the speckled breast gives it away. Can't tell if the other one also has speckling - I think it can take up to 3 years for the immature birds to develop the white head/tail. Very pretty! They're such regal birds!
Thanks

I too, thought it might be a young Bald. I thought it took 4 years before they got their white head.

mcash70 said:I think Bald Eagles have a real attitude, I took these photos at the lake this past summer. A lone eagle was sitting in a treetop and I was pretty happy to get a decent photo of it, but I was delighted when the second one came to land in the same tree, I presume they were a mated pair.

Fantastic pics Margaret!

Thank you Marilyn!

The one bird that I had in Detroit MI that I don't have here in Seattle is a nighthawk although according to this map they should be in Seattle I've never seen them here! http://www.allaboutbirds.org/g...
I do love owls too of course! Neil do you have any owls where you are??