“Those Little Things Are SO Annoying!”

This is the bald eagle from last week that some of you may remember seeing jumping off from the pine tree and flying off across the marsh. Prior to him leaving however, he was buzzed and annoyed by a persistent pair of mockingbirds that just would not leave the poor eagle alone. I don’t know if they had a nest nearby, but the mockingbirds kept pestering the eagle who tried at first to ignore the little birds but the tiny mockingbirds were determined to give the bald eagle a hard time.

In the first three photos you can see one of the mockingbirds perching on branches next to the eagle and in photo #3 it pecked the eagle on the head. In photos 4 and 5 you can see the pair buzzing around the eagle which definitely further annoyed him so he decided to move over to a different section of the tree as can be seen in photos 6 and 7. That tactic failed to produce the desired effect as in photo 8 the mockingbird can be seen perched right above the eagle’s head. The exasperated bald eagle voiced his displeasure before finally leaving the area entirely which was the theme of last week’s post. 🙂

50 thoughts on ““Those Little Things Are SO Annoying!””

sallywoodphotography on October 20, 2013 at 1:35 pm said:

What a cute story Phil! Gotta love nature…. beautiful photography work!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 20, 2013 at 2:14 pm said:
  
  Thanks Sally, and yes indeed nature can be fun and amazing!
  
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niasunset on October 20, 2013 at 1:38 pm said:

…. 🙂 This is the story…. you are amazing dear Phil, I loved them all. Thank you, love, nia

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- Phil Lanoue on October 20, 2013 at 2:15 pm said:
  
  I’m very happy you liked these Nia, thank you! 🙂
  
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acuriousgal on October 20, 2013 at 1:43 pm said:

Spectacular capture

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- Phil Lanoue on October 20, 2013 at 2:15 pm said:
  
  I really appreciate you checking these out, thanks much!
  
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Patrizia M. on October 20, 2013 at 1:46 pm said:

Tremendi questi tordi, sono riusciti a fare perdere la pazienza all’aquila 🙂
Bellissimi scatti Phil!!
CIao, Pat

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- Phil Lanoue on October 20, 2013 at 2:19 pm said:
  
  Mi ha sorpreso l’aquila ha messo su con tanta esasperazione da parte dei piccoli uccelli.
  Grazie Pat!
  
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sallywoodphotography on October 20, 2013 at 1:55 pm said:

From my friend on facebook! : Norma wrote: “In Arizona, I watched a mockingbird annoy a hawk for several minutes, flying all around and very close. Eventually, the hawk just flew away.”

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- Phil Lanoue on October 20, 2013 at 2:16 pm said:
  
  Heh heh, wow, that sounds familiar. Must be typical mockingbird behavior, but they are gutsy little guys. 🙂
  
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adinparadise on October 20, 2013 at 2:07 pm said:

Fabulous pics again, Phil. What a naughty tease that mockingbird is! The eagle showed extreme tolerance, but was obviously not amused. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on October 20, 2013 at 2:17 pm said:
  
  Those were my feelings exactly Sylvia, that eagle put up with a lot even though it was not at all pleased with being tormented. Glad you enjoyed seeing these photos! 🙂
  
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HansHB on October 20, 2013 at 2:17 pm said:

Awesome!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 20, 2013 at 2:18 pm said:
  
  Thanks Hans, I appreciate it!
  
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janmasyn on October 20, 2013 at 2:22 pm said:

Amazing shots of this Bald eagle.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 20, 2013 at 2:38 pm said:
  
  Thank you Jan I always like any chance to see a bald eagle
  
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Gunta on October 20, 2013 at 2:35 pm said:

He does not look amused.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 20, 2013 at 2:39 pm said:
  
  No he does not plus I was surprised he put up with so much from the little guys.
  
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Scott Marshall on October 20, 2013 at 2:58 pm said:

Title makes this post a cut above Phil

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- Phil Lanoue on October 20, 2013 at 3:22 pm said:
  
  I appreciate that Scott thanks much.
  
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  - Katariina Partala on October 21, 2013 at 4:25 pm said:
    
    Hahaha I wouldn’t go near that eagle if I was a mockingbird… Not that I would go near it anyway, better to stay away than be attacked by an angry eagle :p Great photos!
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on October 21, 2013 at 8:33 pm said:
      
      Thanks very much I’m happy you liked the eagle!
      
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David on October 20, 2013 at 3:14 pm said:

Spectacular photos of the eagle. I’d venture to say the mockingbirds got away by bothering the eagle on that day. 😉

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- Phil Lanoue on October 20, 2013 at 3:24 pm said:
  
  I was more then a little surprised the eagle put up with as much as he did. Thanks for checking these out David.
  
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Amy on October 20, 2013 at 3:49 pm said:

The photo #3 the mockingbird pecked the eagle on the head is so cute! Thank you so much for using the series of amazing photos to teach us how to appreciate our beautiful nature. Happy Sunday, Phil!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 21, 2013 at 8:35 pm said:
  
  I greatly appreciate your very kind words Amy and glad you enjoyed seeing the eagle!
  
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The Dancing Rider on October 20, 2013 at 4:07 pm said:

What a majestic bird that eagle is. I’m fascinated by how he did not return the favor to the mockingbird(s). And equally fascinated by how bold the mockingbird(s) were! Would you dare peck an eagle’s head?! Poor guy, finally left. I bet the mockingbirds had a nest nearby or something (as you speculated). Great series of photos.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 22, 2013 at 4:34 pm said:
  
  I’m still wondering if those bold mockingbirds did have a nest nearby or if they were just being annoying pains in the rump and simply giving the eagle a hard time for being in ‘their’ tree. The eagle did have patience with them though.
  
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Deb W. Trotter on October 20, 2013 at 5:16 pm said:

What a fabulous series of photos. Eagles are so amazing.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 22, 2013 at 4:34 pm said:
  
  Thank you Deb, I always enjoy seeing the eagles.
  
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Lyle Krahn on October 20, 2013 at 5:47 pm said:

So big, powerful and … helpless. Great photos especially working with that light background.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 22, 2013 at 4:37 pm said:
  
  I suppose there is not a lot the big boy can do other then leave the tree which is what he eventually did do. He can’t really grab one unless he caught it out in the open which those birds are too smart to let happen.
  I was probably lucky to have the light grey sky background because if the sun was out, they all would have been severely back lit.
  
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Dina on October 20, 2013 at 6:53 pm said:

Hehe, 🙂 Great job!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 22, 2013 at 4:37 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much for looking and commenting!
  
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ruthincolorado on October 20, 2013 at 8:20 pm said:

Ha! Love it. The last shot especially…

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- Phil Lanoue on October 22, 2013 at 4:38 pm said:
  
  You tell by that last shot the eagle was not in a particularly good mood. 🙂
  
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dinajohnston on October 20, 2013 at 9:11 pm said:

What a great story! I can never decide whether those little guys are brave or just stupid.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 22, 2013 at 4:39 pm said:
  
  That’s the perfect question and I don’t know which it is either. They sure can be bold little devils though can’t they?! 🙂
  
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Paula on October 21, 2013 at 5:33 am said:

That little mocking bird has a lot of cheek trying to annoy the eagle. I like your composition of branches as the background. The shots are fabulous as always, especially the one of the “shout” 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on October 22, 2013 at 4:40 pm said:
  
  Thank you Paula, and yes those birds do have a lot of nerve although they may not be too smart. 🙂
  They got away with it this time but that eagle just might remember their behavior.
  
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  - Paula on October 23, 2013 at 9:07 am said:
    
    🙂 😀
    
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foxleylady on October 21, 2013 at 6:33 am said:

Thank you, Phil! My first sight of mocking bird! What attractive birds they are – and very brave!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 22, 2013 at 4:41 pm said:
  
  So glad you enjoyed seeing these Maggie! Those mockingbirds are funny but not sure how smart they are. It’s not really a great idea to annoy the eagle. 🙂
  
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Larry Treadwell on October 21, 2013 at 3:05 pm said:

No matter where they are, those mockingbirds are just a pain in the neck.
You have clearly demonstrated this in the series.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 22, 2013 at 4:43 pm said:
  
  Oh that is absolutely true Larry, they do have an uncanny ability to be annoying. They have been known to dive bomb at your head if you happen to go near a nest which will generally be placed around your front door. 😀
  
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Steve Gingold on October 21, 2013 at 5:29 pm said:

I haven’t seen an eagle being hassled like this, but I have seen many hawks being harassed by much smaller birds and it is amazing the impunity with which the tinier species operate. I think you are probably right about a nearby nest. Very nice series showing the interaction, Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 22, 2013 at 4:44 pm said:
  
  Those eagles usually give the ospreys a very hard time so for once the eagle is getting buzzed by the mockingbirds which must be like mosquitos to him.
  Thanks for checking these out and glad you enjoyed them!
  
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Tricia A. Mitchell on October 23, 2013 at 12:28 pm said:

Fantastic captures, Phil! During the winter months in my IL hometown, we’d often have sightings of the eagles. along the Mississippi River. Where did you take this wonderful set?

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- Phil Lanoue on October 23, 2013 at 2:10 pm said:
  
  Hi Tricia, thank you very much for looking and commenting, I appreciate it.
  Great seeing eagles isn’t it?! I spotted this one near where I live in the coastal SC area just south of Myrtle Beach.
  
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Fergiemoto on October 25, 2013 at 11:44 pm said:

Wow, those are beautiful shots of the eagle! I’m finally able to catch a few minutes to pop in and visit a few blogs.

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