The Jump Off!

Here is the continuation of our bald eagle friend from yesterday… Once I saw that ‘look’, I knew he was likely ready to jump out of the tree and take off flying and that’s exactly what he did. Right after he cleared the tree the eagle swooped low and banked right flying right in front of me. In fact, he was so close I couldn’t fit all of him in my lens!

His next move was to do a wide circle over the marsh pond where just for laughs he buzzed a group of coots which were minding their own business at the far back edge of the pond. This naturally sent the coots scattering in a full blown panic. The eagle did not even attempt to grab a coot he just wanted to give them a hard time…which he is well known for doing! From there he flew up over the tree line and back across the salt marsh to go land in his favorite tall perch along the far side of the marsh.

39 thoughts on “The Jump Off!”

LauraZeitlos on January 7, 2014 at 1:08 pm said:

Great shot!
Cheers,Laura

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- Phil Lanoue on January 7, 2014 at 7:09 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much for checking them out Laura!
  
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  - LauraZeitlos on January 7, 2014 at 7:10 pm said:
    
    😉 It´s a pleasure for me!
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on January 7, 2014 at 7:19 pm said:
      
      I’m very happy to hear that. 🙂
      
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      - LauraZeitlos on January 7, 2014 at 7:20 pm said:
        
        😉
        
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Sophie L. on January 7, 2014 at 1:21 pm said:

Excellent.
The suspens is off and it is a nice story.
Have a great evening Phil

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- Phil Lanoue on January 7, 2014 at 7:09 pm said:
  
  I’m very glad you enjoyed these Sophie thanks very much!
  
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Cowboys and Crossbones on January 7, 2014 at 4:43 pm said:

Holy cool pictures! Were you afraid that he’d snap up your camera?! His look is menacing. I’d scram too if I were the coots!

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- Phil Lanoue on January 7, 2014 at 7:11 pm said:
  
  I was afraid he might snatch my Snickers bar that I was fixin’ to snack on.
  Oh yeah, those coots had better scatter if they knew what’s good for them!
  
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  - Cowboys and Crossbones on January 8, 2014 at 2:22 pm said:
    
    You’re brave snaking on Snickers in front of an eagle!
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on January 8, 2014 at 8:44 pm said:
      
      If he wants my Snickers he is welcome to try to take it from me!
      
      (notice how brave I am when I’m home and he’s not around?)
      
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Twila on January 7, 2014 at 5:14 pm said:

Last weekend, the Eagle flew over and the coots went a running!! I have a great picture of them “running” across the pond. Makes me chuckle. Thanks for sharing these. Great Snaps!!

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- Phil Lanoue on January 7, 2014 at 7:11 pm said:
  
  Thanks for checking these out Twila!
  
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Lee Wilkerson on January 7, 2014 at 5:26 pm said:

So he was just out for fun. Great shots, all of them, but the close-up is exceptional! Thanks Phil!

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- Phil Lanoue on January 7, 2014 at 7:12 pm said:
  
  I really think those eagles buzz the coots and ducks and make them all scatter just for laughs and just because they can! They have to have some fun!
  Thanks Lee
  
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The Dancing Rider on January 7, 2014 at 5:38 pm said:

Beautiful! Love this shot. So close! 🙂 And look at that panic. Can’t blame them.

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- Phil Lanoue on January 7, 2014 at 7:13 pm said:
  
  No you can not blame them at all, they are smart to scatter and hope the eagle has not picked you out. 😯
  
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Patrizia M. on January 7, 2014 at 5:45 pm said:

Aquila dispettosa, fa spaventare le povere folaghe e sicuramente poi se la ride 🙂
Ottimi scatti Phil, fantastici!!
Ciao, Pat

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- Phil Lanoue on January 7, 2014 at 7:19 pm said:
  
  L’aquila pensa di essere divertente. Le anatre non la penso così. 😯 😀
  Grazie Pat!
  
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shoreacres on January 7, 2014 at 5:53 pm said:

I work around a pretty large group of coots, and they panic when I come walking by. I figure that eagle represents a threat level a few times higher than mine – those coots probably were running to one another!

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- Phil Lanoue on January 7, 2014 at 7:15 pm said:
  
  I sometimes think the eagle will purposely fly over coots and ducks and make them all scatter simply because he can. Even when not hunting the eagle strikes fear in to the heart of many a duck and the eagle knows it.
  
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Lyle Krahn on January 7, 2014 at 6:14 pm said:

I love the contrast between the calm, cool flight of the eagle and the pandemonium of the coots.

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- Phil Lanoue on January 7, 2014 at 7:16 pm said:
  
  I wish it happened closer with those coots so I could have got a better look at the scene. I bet they are all flying and running into each other like crazy, but with good reason. Of course the eagle enjoys it quite a bit I’m guessing.
  
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gems3125 on January 7, 2014 at 8:13 pm said:

Reblogged this on skyhawk551.

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- Phil Lanoue on January 8, 2014 at 1:57 pm said:
  
  Hey thanks for the reblog!
  
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Gunta on January 7, 2014 at 8:55 pm said:

What an amazing sequence. I bet he was looking for an osprey to rob!

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- Phil Lanoue on January 8, 2014 at 1:57 pm said:
  
  It’s always fun to see an eagle.
  I think he was just looking to be a pain in the neck to whoever might have been around. 🙂
  
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Kitt Crescendo on January 7, 2014 at 9:34 pm said:

Suddenly I have Sugar Ray’s “I Just Wanna Fly” rolling through my brain…

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- Phil Lanoue on January 8, 2014 at 1:58 pm said:
  
  Sounds good! Thanks for checking these out!
  
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foxleylady on January 8, 2014 at 5:49 am said:

Love the last two pictures, especially! Was he a little bored and thought he would cause trouble, just for fun, I wonder!

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- Phil Lanoue on January 8, 2014 at 1:59 pm said:
  
  Oh I have my suspicions that is exactly what was on his mind. Not much going on, might as well see about stirring up a little trouble just because you can.
  
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Paula on January 8, 2014 at 10:11 am said:

Exciting, fabulous shots!

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- Phil Lanoue on January 8, 2014 at 1:59 pm said:
  
  Hey glad you liked them Paula, thanks!
  
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anotherday2paradise on January 8, 2014 at 3:49 pm said:

Fabulous shots, Phil. Love that big close-up. He looks so focused. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on January 10, 2014 at 8:40 pm said:
  
  Thanks Sylvia! He is head bird out there right now and acts like it!
  Well… Except for Radar who is head egret. 😀
  
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Joe on January 10, 2014 at 5:55 pm said:

Incredible 😀

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- Phil Lanoue on January 10, 2014 at 8:35 pm said:
  
  Hey thanks much Joe I appreciate you checking these out!
  
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pviette on January 10, 2014 at 6:33 pm said:

Wow ! This reminds me of the scene in “the Jungle Book” with Shere Kahn and the vultures. He looks determined to show them who’s the boss.

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- Phil Lanoue on January 10, 2014 at 8:38 pm said:
  
  Especially around this time of year when all the ducks are in the eagle really is in charge! He flies by and they scatter! Well if they know what’s good for them they scatter!
  
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