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Tag Archives: bald eagle

Fall Birds

I like to watch and photograph birds from my kayak. During the breeding season, birds seem more at ease with people-powered boats. But in the fall, the birds are migrants, visiting unfamiliar lakes and terrain, and they are more wary. Each morning of my recent camping trip, there were different birds on the lake. Birds often migrate in the dark so yesterday’s birds moved on and new ones arrived in the wee morning hours to rest for the next leg of their migration. And there were far fewer than in the summer. The loons were gone, having moved on for the winter. They can often be seen on the big river (Columbia) this time of year.

The pair of Ruddy Ducks tried to fool me. I had seen and identified them from shore by their small bodies and stiff, upright tail but when they initially went by my boat, they had their tails tucked in the water and I was puzzled! Then, in unison, they flicked their tails up as if to point out my ignorance. Very cute.

Always Birding

Whether dog walking, paddling my boat or sitting around camp, I enjoy watching and listening for birds. Sometimes they are only heard and not seen and I don’t always know the songs or calls but I keep trying to remember them. Maybe that’s a good thing for an aging brain?

From the tiniest Yellow Warbler to the fearsome Bald Eagle, they are all interesting. I am especially happy with the image of the Ring-necked Ducks. You can actually see the ring, if you look close, on the male. And the spotted goose is probably a leucistic Canada Goose. The Song Sparrow and the Yellow Warblers sang from morning til evening, but not quite as persistently as the American Robins. I frequently heard the Spotted Sandpipers call as they flew along the lake’s edge. They are fun to watch as they bob their tail up and down when they are searching for food.

Beach Eagle

This juvenile Bald Eagle seemed pretty bedraggled.

Perched in the Morning Sun

This pair of Bald Eagles enjoyed some morning sunshine on one of the snags in front of our house recently. I have been seeing a lot of eagles in the valley recently. I think they are eating spawned out salmon.

Bold Bird

Bald Eagles often perch in the snags below our house. I imagine they are hoping for roadkill or spawned out salmon or some other tasty tidbit. Eagles tend to be scavengers rather than hunters around here. This one seemed to take offense that a Black-billed Magpie chose to share its snag perch.

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