March 1st, 2010
This year I was able to document their behavior from beginning to end of their yearly nesting cycle.
This pair are just starting to nest as of March 1st, 2010.
The male had just got done running off last years "Junior" as he isn't welcome in the area anymore.
Here they are. He is coming in to join the female. They are screaming at the Herons who are also nesting close by.
None of the Herons dare to come within 500 yards of the Eagle nest. They fly out the back and to the side of their area.
Sunday started out clear, but was to rain by 10am, so I snuck out to the Ranch at dawn to finish my scouting. It was supposed to rain all week as well. The morning mist was lifting. If you look real close, you will see the white head of the female in the nest; right,upper corner. You will also see some Mallard Ducks in the field. The mist made it hard to see the Eagles nest.
Mallard Duck taking off as I start to walk out.
I found the spot I needed to get the proper eagle pictures, by trial and error. Had I been there earlier, I would have gotten fantastic pictures of the male eagle flying past me with PERFECT lighting. Lesson learned! When I got there, the mist was lifting and the female was in the nest. So stupid of me, I figured nothing would happen like the other morning so I went over to the fence by the Herons to get some shots. I got some good ones, but as I was shooting one, the male flew by behind me so low I couldn't find him with the 500mm. I zoomed out quickly and there he was! However, the sun was on the wrong side and he was already past me.
This is where I should have been (about 50 yards East by the creek) and I would have gotten some great dawn-lighted shots like I got with the herons.
After the male flew by me, they both flew out of the nest and way up to these trees about 300 yards away overlooking the nest.
I had to zoom at 500mm & crop 75% to get these next two shots. I don't know if she has laid eggs yet or just working on the nest. She is spending a lot of time in the nest.
After about 10 minutes She flew back to the nest and the male flew off East probably looking for food.
I decided to call it a day and go back to the car.
For the time being, next time, I'll just go to the creek where it is a better shot of the eagles. I'll forget the Herons for awhile.
March 11th, 2010
April 11th & 14th 2010
April 14th, 2010
I went back out to my blind stand a week later at first light to check on the Eagles.
You can see the nest if you look REAL close.
She never left the nest the 4 hours I was there. Sitting on eggs I bet.
The male was on the far side behind the nest. He flew out the back way. I had to zoom to 500mm & crop 75% to get this shot.
Since the Eagles weren't cooperating, I practiced on Hawks and Herons.
It has been 2-3 weeks since I've been out there due to bad weather and the fact that they're still sitting on the eggs. I took these from the road this time. Better lighting.
They take turns sitting on the eggs. This time the male was taking a break.
Break time... Dinner time.
These three are right after he took off in the video!
April 25th, 2010
It has been raining for the past week and was overcast today so that makes for poor pictures. I took just one picture and a video this time.
I took a couple videos too.
2nd Video was of some Northern Flickers Courting.
I haven't been out for a couple weeks as the weather has been bad. I stopped by during the bad windstorm we had to see if they were OK. While I was there, the tree the Flickers were on blew down. I will miss this snag as I got a lot of great pictures of the Eagles & and other birds on it. Last year the Eagles spent a lot of time watching the nest from it.
Nesting Bald Eagles Part II - Babies Hatch!
Nesting Starts!
Babies Hatch!
Eaglets growing up!
First Flight!
May 7th, 2010