Well, kind of. The whole family is indeed in this picture but you have to look close for the newest member.

Dad is perched solo to the right, mom is in the nest and if you look between her legs, you can see the bobbleheaded eaglet. This year the adults added quite a bit to the nest creating a bigger, deeper bowl so it is harder to see in there than before.

I am sure I will get many more pictures of the trio in the months to come. See my post from earlier today for a better shot of the little one.

Whoohoo! We have an eaglet! I only got a few, fleeting glimpses of the little bald eagle this morning but that was enough to satisfy me. Here, it looks around while taking a break from mama feeding it.

I had hoped there would be more than one but it appears there is not (at least I only saw one). I’ll work to get a better pic as time goes on. Today it insisted on staying in mom’s shadow making it tough to get a decent capture.

Parenting is a team effort not only with us bi-pedal creatures but oftentimes in the wildlife world as well.

With bald eagles, once eggs are laid, one parent is virtually always on the nest, guarding and keeping them warm. When the eggs hatch, the parents still lay on the little ones to keep them warm and then, as they get bigger, they stay nearby to protect them.

When I visited this nest last weekend, I witnessed a few “changing of the guards” as the parents switched off duty at the nest. Here, after the female took a break and brought back some grass, the male departs. He would go to a nearby tree while the female stayed at the nest.

I don’t know for a fact but I suspect the eggs had hatched by this time, at least that is judging from their behavior. Both spent time on the rim of the nest looking down in it and at one point when the male was eating a fish, he would occasionally dip his head down and to the side like he was feeding a little one. I’ll be paying them another visit soon and am hopeful to see a “bobblehead” or two in there!

Have a fantastic #FreedomFriday and weekend!

And this is why I take a longer route than needed coming home from work. 😉 

Recent months I haven’t found much exciting on my drives home from work but yesterday was certainly an exception. As I passed by an area open space, I spotted an adult and juvenile bald eagle having a bit of an aerial battle over one of the ponds.

I hastily made a U-turn but by then they were heading off in pursuit of each other. I waited for a bit and that proved to be worthwhile because the adult soon returned. Best of all, it was clearly interested in eating.

Approaching head on toward me, it approached low and fast, focused on its target in the water. In an instant it swung its talons forward and into the water and, bam, one fish to go. This image was snapped an instant after the grab as it prepares to head off and enjoy its meal.

It was a pretty long shot so the image is heavily cropped and not the best quality but I am loving the action and it is a fine image for Freedom Friday. I for one am thankful the weekend is here! Hope you all have a fine one.

Oh, this was a scene I was hoping to see this morning. After last weekend’s blizzard, I was very concerned how this pair, their nest and their eggs fared. I had heard of other bald eagle nests in the area failing as a result of the storm and was praying this one did not suffer the same fate.

Upon arriving this morning at the nest, a thick fog had settled in along the river. I couldn’t see anything initially but after about a half hour, the male came flying in with a fish. He dropped it off and left and at that point, I still didn’t have confirmation that she was in the nest.

Finally, after another half hour, movement. There she was, her head just barely visible. Whew! What a relief!

After a while, he returned and there was a changing of the guard where he took over egg-warming duties and she flew off for a break. Upon her return, the pair ate some of the fish the male brought earlier. Here, he even lets her take some right from his beak, something I had never seen adults do before.

Yes, that’s right. In the battle of predator versus prey, all is fair and this male bald eagle was ready to up his game with an ancient but highly effective weapon. Whether going for the surf (fish) or the turf (prairie dog), this is the latest in tech for the well-outfitted bald eagle that is ready to provide for his coming family.

Okay, not really, this was simply a stick the handsome fellow was bringing back to the nest but it really does look like a spear doesn’t it? 😀

Have a fantastic TGIF and weekend, everyone!

Taken last weekend at my favorite bald eagle nest, the male hops out of the family home after delivering a stick. You can’t see her in this capture, but the female was in the nest, sitting on eggs. I love the pose on this one, even if a bit obscured, and it does a nice job of showcasing that massive wingspan.

With a major winter storm set to arrive later today, I cannot help but be worried about this pair. The female just laid eggs within the last couple of weeks and keeping those warm is critical. Perhaps of bigger concern is the likelihood of a lot of heavy, wet snow weighing down the nest, putting it at risk of collapse.

I probably won’t be able to get in and check on them until late next week. Until then, I will just be hoping and praying all is okay.

A very simple image of this regal bald eagle and one that I like quite a bit.

Taken recently on the plains of Colorado. After giving me a fantastic flyby, this beautiful #raptor landed on the tip of this old, dead tree. The early morning sun lit it up beautifully against those typically gorgeous, blue skies.

No action, no drama, just a beautiful bird making for a nice, peaceful image.

Oh my! That look!

Taken last weekend, this handsome symbol of our nation was patrolling a frozen lake, hoping for an opening in the ice though which it might catch a fish. My friend and I spotted it approaching from a long ways away and as it drew closer, it glided effortlessly in a circle, focused on something below.

It never got very close and since the lake was frozen solid, there was no meal to be had, but I was able to get some nice images of it.

I take tons of pics of bald eagles but there is something about this image and the series that I really love. The light was great, those blue skies really make the eagle pop, and the look on its face, that focus, wow!

Have a great #FreedomFriday and weekend, everyone!

Which way is up?

Watching bald eagles battle is an extraordinary experience and one not many folks get to witness. Thankfully I have seen it many times although virtually always the action is a good ways away.

On this recent morning, these two young eagles seemed to be having a bit of a disagreement. After sitting on adjacent poles and raising a ruckus at each other, one decided it had enough and departed. The other however, felt there was more to be said and chased after the first.

In the distance, the aggressor came from underneath and briefly the pair locked talons. They then separated, the aggressor seeming to fall perilously. Of course this is not unusual and both quickly recovered.

These aren’t the greatest of pics due to the distance but it is a fun bit of behavior to see. Someday I will find a pair willing to do this close to me.  😉