A pair of Bald Eagles enjoys each others company last month in Adams County, Colorado. There is a very large nest nearby that in at least the two years I have been aware of it has not been used. This pair however has been seen regularly in the area over the last couple of months so I am hoping they are planning on making use of it.
Juvenile Bald Eagle takes the leap for Freedom Friday
A bit of a different angle on this young Bald Eagle’s launch but one that I kind of like.
Watching one of these massive raptors take flight is an incredible experience. You can’t appreciate the intricacy and gracefulness of their motion as they launch themselves into the air. Sometimes, as is the case here, they leap almost straight up while simultaneously spreading their wings.
This image also showcases the eagle’s talons, one part you would not want to be on the wrong end of. Have a great weekend and TGIF!
A good day for a Bald Eagle, not so much for a Prairie Dog
Bald Eagle performs a perfect ‘dash and dine.’ I was observing two young eagles perform some aerial play low to the ground when suddenly one broke away and dived. Without missing a beat, it snatched something off the ground and took off in the other direction. As it did, I could see it had grabbed a Prairie Dog.
It proceeded to land on a nearby pole where the young eagle spent almost an hour devouring its catch. As you can see, this bird has been banded at some point previously. I am going to have to sit down with my pictures and see if I can get enough numbers off of the bands to report it. It is always interesting to learn the history of where they came from.
Taken on Friday, December 4, 2015 in Adams County, Colorado. Scroll down to view the complete series.
Sunrise bathes Bald Eagle in golden light
This eagle was hanging out in Longmont, Colorado on Halloween morning. It and I sat, watching the sun as it slowly crept above the horizon. I could tell it was getting antsy and wanting to take flight so I was hoping it would wait at least long enough for the sun to rise above the horizon. Thankfully it did so and the warm, orange color covered the entire landscape just as it took flight. It was absolutely resplendent in the colored light as it flew off.
Young Bald Eagle shows off for Freedom Friday
The temperatures were bitter cold as the remnants of eastern Colorado’s most recent snowstorm moved out on the day after Thanksgiving. Thankfully this young eagle was kind enough to pose and then take flight at an angle that didn’t require me to get out of the warmth of my truck and its heated seats. 😉
It was perched high on a pole and after giving me some nice looks, took flight directly beside me. I was able to capture an entire sequence of images, this being my favorite of them.
As it nears five years old, its transformation to a full adult with dark plumage and a white head are nearly complete. Most notably to be is a nice view of its talons, the tools of the trade as it were, that make this raptor such an efficient predator.
Back off, human!
Perhaps it was grumpy about the bitter cold temperatures and the snow and freezing rain from the night before, but this Bald Eagle didn’t seem to appreciate having a camera shoved in its face. 😉
You can see the ice built up on the pole and wires where this raptor was perched and a few remnant snowflakes are falling despite the blue skies. In truth I don’t expect the eagle much cared about me being there as it continued to pose for me for quite a while before moving off.
Certainly I much prefer capturing images of these majestic creatures in a more ‘natural’ setting like a tree. Unfortunately though, on the plains of Colorado, trees are few and far between so raptors utilize utility poles as perches instead. The good thing about that is it makes them very easy to find. Taken in rural Adams County, Colorado.?
Let’s play a game
How many Bald Eagles can you count in this picture? There’s quite a few for sure. I’ll share my count after some other folks pipe in. In another month or so there will be three times this many in this spot. Unfortunately they are in an ‘off limits’ area so have to be admired from a great distance. Taken this morning at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. ?
Answer: There are 13 Bald Eagles and one Red Tailed Hawk.
Young Bald Eagle takes flight for Freedom Friday
This young Bald Eagle is likely coming up on four years old and is starting to get its distinctive white head. I was observing it at its perch in unincorporated Adams County, Colorado where it has taken to hanging out behind a mechanic’s shop.
The folks there have been kind enough to let me in so I can get pictures. After giving me some nice poses, the eagle decided it had enough and was ready to move on to its next location. The late afternoon sunlight worked well on a gorgeous subject.
If Benjamin Franklin had his way…
If Benjamin Franklin had his way, the Bald Eagle would not hold such a lofty position in the United States of America. I tend to think there is no comparison between it and the bird he preferred.
Bald Eagle performs a high tower stretch
I spotted this gorgeous eagle keeping watch atop a monstrous power pole this past Sunday. For an hour it sat there surveying the earthy domain beneath it while I watched it from below. I thought for sure it would take flight, unable to resist the temptation of the dozens if not hundreds of prairie dogs that in the field below that could provide an easy meal.
Instead it was quite content to just hang out and watch with the only real action to be observed was a rather lengthy stretch of its wings which this image captures. It is kind of a neat image in that it almost appears the raptor was landing but that was not the case.