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!
Phil Lanoue Photography 
He looks like a jet fighter in that top shot. What a flier!
They are excellent flyers and it was a *very* windy morning too with many birds being knocked around by the wind.
Those are some amazing angle shots!
It was cool to see, a bit farther off then I would like requiring a heavy crop but what can you do? 😕 🙂
WOW!! I love these angled flight shots! Awesome work, Phil!
Thanks very much I appreciate your kind comments!
Because he thinks he is cool. Awesome angled shots!
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.
Quite amazing. Great photos, great info.
Thanks Charlie glad you enjoyed these!
Wow, great photos and story!
I’m really happy you enjoyed the photos and story!
Great photos. It’s always interesting to hear the personality side of the photos as well.
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.
Amazing and beautiful shots Phil.
Thanks much Jan.
Fantastic!!
Thanks for checking them out!
a Stuka diver bomber if I am not mistaken lol
Ha! I think you are right about that
Amazing captures of bird behavior.
Thank you I’m glad you like the eagle pics!
I tend to agree with Ben Franklin as to our choice of the national bird… not the best character to emulate!
Yes bald eagles are often more then happy to let someone else do the work and then take advantage. They can be pirates.
Nice shots Phil!
Thanks very much Sue!
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
I’m glad you liked the bald eagle photos Maria and you are right, those at the top can often be bullies.
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!
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.
What an awesome bird! With such a fierce look and a beak like that, I wouldn’t want to argue with it, either!
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. 🙂
Always a treat to visit here. I guess the eagle needed some entertainment.
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?! 🙂
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.
Those hawks are excellent hunters of smaller birds and are quite skilled at their tactics.
Glad you liked these photos!
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.
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. 🙂
Yes sometimes, it is just nice to watch without thinking about the photos. Well, that’s my excuse anyway.
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.
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.
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.
LOL ! What great drama you were able to witness. He must have been bored.
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.
Magnificent!
Thanks a bunch Lucy! 🙂