On an otherwise cloudless day, this lone cloud started drifting over my Walnut Tree. I started taking photos as it continued to move our way.
That’s when I spotted something flying overhead. See it at the upper left of the photo?
Luckily it soared closer. It’s a Bald Eagle!
Bald Eagle wingspans are impressive. Now that the Turkey Vultures are returning sometimes identifying these birds while at a distance can be hard. One easy difference is that Bald Eagles fly very steadily through the air while vultures constantly rock back and forth while riding the air currents.
I turned away from the cloud and saw this Red-tailed Hawk. It had been making a lot of noise (there was actually a pair of them)- probably trying to scare the eagle away.
A couple of weeks ago we saw a bald eagle fly over our backyard, near Berkeley, CA. It was a thrill, but I was not quick enough to get my camera and a picture. We do see turkey vultures almost every day, and Red Tails several times a months.
Great post. Bald eagles have really made a return in our area. There is a wilderness lake in S. Vermont that we fish on a regular basis and we watch the eagles catch fish all day long. Last year on a single day we saw six different birds simultaneously, a first for me. Some of them were immature and it was really fun watching how inefficient they were at fishing.
Thanks for this, it was wonderful.
Great photos! Bald Eagles are amazing–and a great bird for the yard list!
Awesome photos! Definitely something I would love to see flying over my yard!
wow, you were lucky!
Love the catches!
And the RT Hawk ain’t bad either.
Beautiful!
AH to have a Bald Eagle come into view over my treeyear trees. Michael envious. I did once have a Sparrowhawk perch once in the Horse chestnut. But the chances of any eagle in London – never.