Quote:
Originally Posted by Itsed65
Yes, I was very close. At the NWR I was at, (Tulelake), these old telephone polls line the road along the lake, and I think they left them up on purpose as they provide perfect perches for the eagles to scope out the lake. The auto tour goes right under all these poles so you can get VERY close. We watched (slightly horrified) as a sub-adult but full sized bird swooped low over the lake and plucked a duck out of the water right in front of us. He only had the neck in its talons though and it couldn't keep its grip and dropped it back into the water. The fight was then on as about 4 other eagles swooped in trying for the prize. Noble bird my butt 
This guy is on one of the described perches and I shot this with my Fuji right out the jeep window. |
Great series of eagle shots Ed.
We've got two nesting, but it's cut off access to much of our wooded area. Also, the lake is totally frozen this year, because they're not running the bubblers to keep the algae level up, so no visitor-eagles are coming in for day-fishing, like in most years, so I'm largely doing without. I get lucky occasionally and see one of the nesting pair fly by.
I'm hopeful that the fish are feasting on the algae, such that the eagles will come in to gorge when the ice melts. Fingers crossed.
Dave