Birds and Nature

I spotted the above adult Bald Eagle at Brush Hollow Reservoir over the week-end. As I almost always do I stayed in my car and kept my camera in it's silent mode to avoid flushing this raptor. I am pleased to report that it not appear disturbed by my presence and remained perched just like this when I drove off a few minutes later. I actually spotted this immature Bald Eagle the day before I saw the adult eagle. Unfortunately it was more distant and backlit. I believe it is a 4 year old eagle in Basic III plumage which Birds of North America online (subscrition) describes in part: "Head white, with distinct brown flecking on forehead and crown, with dark flecking around eye or extending posterior to eye in some individuals...Rectrices mostly white with brown flecking proximally and heavy brown mottling on distal margins of feathers." Also note that the eye has changed to yellow and the base of it's bill is yellow now. SeEtta

While in the Denver area I saw this Bald Eagle on her nest with her mate perched nearby. SeEtta

While I was watching the Bald Eagle from the last post with my spotting scope, I wondered why it kept turning it's head to the side with one eye looking downward and the other looking upward. I thought it might be checking for some prey beneath it but I was wrong. It turned out that this pair of Common Ravens in the top pic was flying above and when they flew off I found there was a pair of Bald Eagles soaring high above. So I think it was literally keeping an eye on these birds. SeEtta

I have been monitoring this nesting female and have often seen her mate nearby. Last year their nest and nest tree was destroyed in severe winds. I found her still on the nest yesterday and her mate perched about 25 feet above her as shown in this pic (double-click on pic to enlarge it to see them better). Interestingly, at dusk I found both Bald Eagles in the nest--see bottom 2 pics (unfortunately the eagles were several hundred feet away and it was dusk). I don't know if perhaps the male was going to try to breed with her again or if he was going to enjoy a nest to spend the night. Another, though anthropomorphic explanation might be that he was being altruistic by staying in the nest with her as it was quite windy (I don't know if they would even remember the bad winds that destroyed their nest last year). At first I thought I had just caught him bringing her food but I watched for more than 10 minutes and he was still there. SeEtta

Today I birded in the La Junta, Colo area and found two adult Bald Eagles perched near Lake Holbrook. These pics are of one of those eagles. I was delighted to get these pics without disturbing the eagles. It doesn't take a skillful bird photographer to flush birds when photographing them, it does take skill to get good pics without disturbing birds.