Tree Top Canoodling
As you know, we have a mated pair of bald eagles that have been regularly in attendance around the marsh area for several weeks. Yesterday morning I was set up and watching the male of the pair when who should suddenly come swooping in but the lovely Mrs. Eagle. She landed on the branch next to him and they seemed extremely happy and excited to be together. They began calling loudly and then started touching beaks and nipping at each other’s necks. At one point Mrs. Eagle was rubbing her face against his back and shoulder. They continued calling and acting quite animated before finally settling down but continued to make eyes at one another.
After a short while it was apparently time to leave and she left first, launching herself off the branch and surprising me by swooping so low that she jumped right out of my frame. Seconds later it was Mr. Eagle’s turn and he also jumped off and flew out after his mate. It was a fun and exciting event to witness!Â
Phil Lanoue Photography 
How lovely to see birds showing affection to each other. Fabulous photographs of a very tender moment Phil! 🙂
Thank much Adrian! They did seem quite taken with each other. 🙂
How thrilling for you (and us, too)!
Thanks glad you liked these! I was happy to see it for sure!
Absolutely beautiful pictures! Would like to have been there to hear them cooing to each other.
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Thank you Sue! Yes they were really sqeaking and sqwaking like crazy!
These are fantastic – what a great moment, and to be able to catch it all!
Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed these eagle pics!
Awesome series Phil! Love it!
Thanks Rick I appreciate it!
Love is in the air, absolutely amazing pictures Phil.
So happy you like these Jan. Yes they looked to be in love. 🙂
Actually I think the conversation goes like this;
‘have you seen that idiot with the camera/’
‘hahahahahaha’
‘let’s go give him a surprise!’
But seriously, lovely photos, brought a smile to my face.
That’s probably close to what happened. Heh heh
Actually later in the day I got pics of one dropping a ‘deposit’ from his perch in the tree. Glad I was not directly under him.
Dopey eagle. 😛
Happy you liked the pics! 🙂
Wow, what great pictures. What a terrific series of these beautiful birds and their relationship to each other. Would have love to have been there to see them, however, your pictures are the next best thing to being there.
Thank you for your very kind words and I’m happy you enjoyed these photos!
Such an amazing thing to see and you caught it perfect!
Thanks much, glad you liked them!
I love hearing eagles talk. It always makes me smile because looking at them, you’d think their voices would be deep and low, but instead out comes these little high squeaks and cackles. Fantastic photos, Phil, and what an exciting time you must’ve had getting to watch this happen!
It is funny to hear them call isn’t it? 😆 They are huge birds and make those little squeaky sounds.
Thanks very much for checking out these pics Kate!
very neat, I have never been able to hear eagles…
They are funny to hear, a big bird like that making squeaky sounds. 🙂 Thanks Sally
I’m so touched by seeing (and reading) how they nipping at each other’s necks and she was rubbing her face against his back and shoulder. Thank you, Phil!!
I was quite thrilled to see them acting this way toward each other. 🙂
Thank you for commenting Amy!
Wait a minute, is canoodling an official birding term? In fact, I’ve been guilty when I caught two red shoulder hawks doing the same thing. Although I see a lot of screaming and nagging here. LOL ! What a wonderful experience Phil.
Oh yes, canoodling is an official scientific bird behavior term. But only us with top secret security clearance get to know this type of info. 😯 😉 They were squeaking and squawking at each other but getting along wonderfully!
Phil, these photos are astounding! What a great and exciting time this must have been to document this pair together.
Thank you very much! Yes I was quite thrilled to be able to witness and photograph this amazing behavior! 🙂
Canoodling, romance … what’s next on the wildlife blog?
Somewhere in here I got pics of gators getting frisky. 😯 😀
Lovely pics, and look forward to maybe seeing some pictures of the young in due course
Thanks, so glad you liked these eagle pics! Could be a ways off before they start a family. That male looks to me like more of a teenager then a full grown adult who is ready to take on the responsibilities of a family and a mortgage on a big new nest. He just might be more into flying around and having fun at this point.
They must have had a Happy Valentine’s Day! Lovely pair and sequence of photos.
I bet they did!
Thanks, I’m happy you liked these photos!
Bald Eagle photos are on my photography bucket list. Haven’t run across any in my travels yet….
They are a thrill to see in the wild. I always say… any day you see a bald eagle is a good day. 🙂
So cute!! You should have posted these pics on Valentine’s Day! 😀
I wish I could have, but I didn’t see this romantic event until the day after on the 15th. 😦
You would think they would be more cooperative and provide this experience on the proper day wouldn’t you?! 😀
Of course 😉 I was pretty sure you took these pics before Valentine’s Day and just decided not to publish them before!! :p
How lovely – cooing in perfect harmony! Wonderful shots.
Thank you for your kind words and I’m happy you enjoyed the photos!
Again an awesome and impressive Story
I am very glad you liked this, thanks!
exciting set of photographs and story Phil thanks to your patience!
Thank you very much for looking and commenting and I appreciate your kind words!
What awesome creatures birds of prey are! Do the bald eagles mate for life? We have osprey that visit the Lake District here in the UK every year and were always the same pair, until a year or so ago, when a new lady appeared with the male!
Thank you very much Maggie and I believe they do indeed mate for life. This pair has only recently gotten together and although they seem to be happy we do not know for sure if they will stay together permanently and raise a family here but we sure hope they do. The male seems rather young and could just be a teenager that has other interests besides taking on adult responsibilities. 🙂
Wow, these are excellent, Phil!
I’m very happy you enjoyed the eagle photos Gracie, thanks!
How cool is that!! But isn’t it a bit early for mating? I doubt that you have an early Spring over there, right ? But the behavior shows definitively a pure flirting. I don’t know about these eagles, but many birds stays a lifetime together.,
regards Thee
Glad you liked these eagle photos! Not too early for mating (we have seen evidence of it) 🙂 They can begin a courtship and mating process even earlier then this. It has to be early in order to have Spring young in the nest.
This pair is likely not quite at that stage yet and we do not know for sure if they will stay together as full time mates and raise a family nearby but we hope they do.
They are telling stories. How beautiful to observe such communication.
Phil, your sensitivity and skill are outstanding. Amazing.
I greatly appreciate your very kind comments Karen thank you so much.
Che scatti fantastici, wowwww
Così felice che vi piacciano 🙂
Beautiful, touching photography!
I appreciate you looking and commenting Molly, thanks!