Bald Eagle

With a change in the weather forecasted for tomorrow, figured I should get out for a short walk in the sunshine this afternoon. I headed out to Reifel and on checking near the entrance,

… the White-throated Sparrow did pop out into the open a couple of times. I then made my way out the east and north dyke trails. On approaching the tower I noted an immature Bald Eagle in a tree across from it. So up I went with the hopes of getting some take off/landing or flight shots.

While I was on the camera photographing this bird I heard quite the commotion below me with ducks scattering. On looking up from the camera a different immature Bald Eagle had landed on the railing next to me with what was left of a duck and proceeded to finish off. At this point it way too close for my 400mm lens, so I resorted to my cell phone (Lumia 950XL) for this video.

After several minutes of video I chanced retrieving my camera and moving to the far side of the tower to get beyond my minimum focussing distance.

The Bald Eagle just kept on munching away unperturbed with my (and another couple that came up after seeing what happened) being there.

This was a first for me being this close to a wild Bald Eagle (other than one time I stood by with an injured one waiting or O.W.L.)

I finished off with this close up video taken with the camera. Definitely not something that happens every day.

Night-Heron & Eagle

Managed a quick walk in the sun this afternoon. There were more people than I expected there would be for a Friday at Reifel. Birding wise it was fairly quiet, but there was one pleasant surprise.

On starting out for my walk one of the Black-crowned Night-Heron was on the move and in the open in an evergreen tree across from the gift shop. The only other action I managed was at the tower.

The Bald Eagles are still frequenting the tree tops here providing some good photo opportunities.

Hooded Merganser & Eagle

I was surprised by the number of visitors for a Friday when I arrived at Reifel, but it was a nice day. The breeze was on the cool side, but it was petering out. Unfortunately it was fairly quiet on the birding front.

I did find and spend some time with some Hooded Mergansers on one of the inner ponds in some nice light.

Managing to get both male and female,

… along with the male Hooded Merganser fanning its wings after preening. Towards the end of the day,

… this Bald Eagle spent some time in the trees across from the tower providing an opportunity for some photos. The nice thing when they perch here and you are shooting from the top of the tower is the better angle, almost eye level.