Bald Eagle Morning

This morning we were out in the salt marsh hoping to see a roseate spoonbill that was reported to be in the area. We never did see the spoonie but we noticed that one of our pair of mated bald eagles was flying far out along the tree line carrying some branches. So apparently they have decided to do some home improvements and enlarge the small nest we had previously seen them sitting in and around.

We saw one of them fly off toward the north and we assumed it was heading out to pick up some more building supplies. But after a short while that eagle unexpectedly came swooping in from another direction and dived bombed an area fairly far out in the marsh. I lost it in the tall reeds but figured it likely had spotted a fish and went in to grab it. But when I saw a great blue heron come busting up out of the reeds I quickly realized what (I thought) the eagle was up to. Bald eagles will often try to steal fish from birds like the blue heron and I figured that’s what was going on here. But when they both got airborne and I saw that neither one had a fish I got suspicious. My suspicions were confirmed when I saw the eagle dive bomb another blue heron. The eagle was not trying to snatch fish, it was just being a big pain in the neck and harassing the other birds! Why? Because it can. Those eagles can be bullies! After he finished bothering some of the other marsh residents, he flew off…possibly in search of more building materials!

46 thoughts on “Bald Eagle Morning”

suburbanferndaleark on April 21, 2013 at 1:24 pm said:

He looks like a jet fighter in that top shot. What a flier!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 21, 2013 at 3:33 pm said:
  
  They are excellent flyers and it was a *very* windy morning too with many birds being knocked around by the wind.
  
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dinajohnston on April 21, 2013 at 2:04 pm said:

Those are some amazing angle shots!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 21, 2013 at 3:34 pm said:
  
  It was cool to see, a bit farther off then I would like requiring a heavy crop but what can you do? 😕 🙂
  
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Littlesundog on April 21, 2013 at 2:11 pm said:

WOW!! I love these angled flight shots! Awesome work, Phil!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 21, 2013 at 3:34 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much I appreciate your kind comments!
  
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Amy on April 21, 2013 at 2:25 pm said:

Because he thinks he is cool. Awesome angled shots!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 21, 2013 at 3:35 pm said:
  
  He is a pretty cool guy out in the marsh and all a bald eagle needs to do is fly overhead and lots of ducks and small waders will scatter.
  
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Charlie@Seattle Trekker on April 21, 2013 at 2:38 pm said:

Quite amazing. Great photos, great info.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 21, 2013 at 3:35 pm said:
  
  Thanks Charlie glad you enjoyed these!
  
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Deb W. Trotter on April 21, 2013 at 3:15 pm said:

Wow, great photos and story!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 21, 2013 at 3:36 pm said:
  
  I’m really happy you enjoyed the photos and story!
  
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lylekrahn on April 21, 2013 at 3:22 pm said:

Great photos. It’s always interesting to hear the personality side of the photos as well.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 21, 2013 at 3:37 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much. This was one of those deals where even if I got no pics at all it would have still been cool to see and experience.
  
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janmasyn on April 21, 2013 at 4:06 pm said:

Amazing and beautiful shots Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 21, 2013 at 6:27 pm said:
  
  Thanks much Jan.
  
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Chillbrook on April 21, 2013 at 4:10 pm said:

Fantastic!!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 21, 2013 at 6:27 pm said:
  
  Thanks for checking them out!
  
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Scott Marshall on April 21, 2013 at 4:23 pm said:

a Stuka diver bomber if I am not mistaken lol

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- Phil Lanoue on April 21, 2013 at 6:27 pm said:
  
  Ha! I think you are right about that
  
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norasphotos4u on April 21, 2013 at 4:57 pm said:

Amazing captures of bird behavior.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 21, 2013 at 6:28 pm said:
  
  Thank you I’m glad you like the eagle pics!
  
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Gunta on April 21, 2013 at 5:22 pm said:

I tend to agree with Ben Franklin as to our choice of the national bird… not the best character to emulate!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 21, 2013 at 6:29 pm said:
  
  Yes bald eagles are often more then happy to let someone else do the work and then take advantage. They can be pirates.
  
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Susan Sohl on April 21, 2013 at 7:45 pm said:

Nice shots Phil!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 22, 2013 at 8:51 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much Sue!
  
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mariayarri on April 21, 2013 at 8:18 pm said:

What a great serie of Mr Bald … He is a beauty ! And one of my favourite birds .
The ones who are in top of our hierarchy often seems to be bullies …
Whether it is in the human world or in the bird world 😉 … // Maria

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- Phil Lanoue on April 22, 2013 at 8:51 pm said:
  
  I’m glad you liked the bald eagle photos Maria and you are right, those at the top can often be bullies.
  
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circuitousjourney on April 22, 2013 at 6:29 am said:

This weekend I saw my first ‘live’ Great Blue Herons in flight! Was in South NJ, on a creek and hoped to see them a second time for a photo, but didn’t get the opportunity. Will have to get my Heron fix with your photos!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 22, 2013 at 8:53 pm said:
  
  Well I’m glad you got a chance to see one of my all time favorite birds. I watched one absolutely skewer a fish today in the salt marsh. I’ll have to post those pics in the next day or two.
  
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Maggie Davey on April 22, 2013 at 8:45 am said:

What an awesome bird! With such a fierce look and a beak like that, I wouldn’t want to argue with it, either!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 22, 2013 at 8:54 pm said:
  
  Interestingly the great blue herons have been known to stand up to bald eagles. The eagle usually wins but so it goes in bird world. 🙂
  
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Garden Walk Garden Talk on April 22, 2013 at 1:42 pm said:

Always a treat to visit here. I guess the eagle needed some entertainment.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 22, 2013 at 8:55 pm said:
  
  I really think that’s why they do some of the things they do…just to entertain themselves. But once again, of course they can, so they figure why not?! 🙂
  
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Fergiemoto on April 22, 2013 at 6:50 pm said:

Wow, way cool to see this! Great shots!
There was small hawk that was chasing after a magpie larger than him the other day in our yard. Not near as stunning as seeing a bald eagle and great blue heron, but the hawk seemed to want the magpie for a large meal.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 22, 2013 at 8:56 pm said:
  
  Those hawks are excellent hunters of smaller birds and are quite skilled at their tactics.
  Glad you liked these photos!
  
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roughseasinthemed on April 23, 2013 at 3:56 am said:

A bully but a handsome bully, quite majestic. Thanks for sharing what he was up to. Great to have insight into the behaviour in the natural world.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 26, 2013 at 11:06 am said:
  
  Thank you so much and I’m glad you enjoyed seeing these photos. This was a case where I was happy to just see this activity and if I had not been able to get photos it would still be amazing. Getting pics is even better though. 🙂
  
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  - roughseasinthemed on April 26, 2013 at 11:09 am said:
    
    Yes sometimes, it is just nice to watch without thinking about the photos. Well, that’s my excuse anyway.
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on April 26, 2013 at 11:13 am said:
      
      That is 100% true. I have often been caught up in watching something and had a camera right with me but was so interested in what I was seeing I never took a pic. Later I say to myself…those would have been nice pictures. Oh well I enjoyed the experience anyway.
      
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adinparadise on April 24, 2013 at 3:00 pm said:

What a lot goes on in the salt marsh, Phil. Great that you are there to record all these amazing flight and fights. 🙂 Fantastic captures again.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 26, 2013 at 11:09 am said:
  
  Thanks so much Sylvia! The problem becomes when I start wondering and worrying what is going on that I’m missing when I’m not there. They should always wait for me to arrive before performing any action but somehow I don’t think my photos are their #1 priority. Even now as I sit here…what’s going on?!? 🙂 I bet the alligators are up to something.
  
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Bella Remy Photography on April 24, 2013 at 6:58 pm said:

LOL ! What great drama you were able to witness. He must have been bored.

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- Phil Lanoue on April 26, 2013 at 11:10 am said:
  
  Those eagles can be something that’s for sure. I am convinced they do many of these things to be purposely annoying simply because they can.
  
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theforagingphotographer on April 25, 2013 at 4:56 pm said:

Magnificent!

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- Phil Lanoue on April 26, 2013 at 11:11 am said:
  
  Thanks a bunch Lucy! 🙂
  
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