Eagle Up A Tree

Yesterday afternoon I spotted this juvenile bald eagle sitting in a pine tree along side the salt marsh. He looked to be maybe a two year bird, no signs of getting any white on his head yet.

He sat around just taking in the sights for a while when suddenly an impossibly bold mockingbird decided it might be a fun idea to dive bomb the eagle. Although the young eagle was clearly unimpressed, if the mockingbird’s strategy was to try to make the eagle leave the pine tree, it worked!

Within a few seconds the juvenile bald eagle jumped off from his branch and flew away. As he left, he flew so close by in front of me I could not fit all of him in my lens.

24 thoughts on “Eagle Up A Tree”

Maleea Brooks on October 25, 2014 at 1:30 pm said:

Oh Phil. Stunning. Just stunning. I want to frame every picture you post and have a gallery surround me. Incredible.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 28, 2014 at 10:37 am said:
  
  I really appreciate that Maleea, thank you. 🙂
  
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Littlesundog on October 25, 2014 at 1:36 pm said:

Oh, these are exceptional. I love the detail!!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 28, 2014 at 10:37 am said:
  
  So glad you enjoyed seeing the young eagle!
  
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Patrizia M. on October 25, 2014 at 4:08 pm said:

Una serie di scatti spettacolari. Bravissimo come sempre caro Phil, sei eccezionale!!
Ciao, Pat

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- Phil Lanoue on October 28, 2014 at 10:38 am said:
  
  Grazie Pat! 🙂
  
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Pat on October 25, 2014 at 4:14 pm said:

Wow! What a fantastic series this is!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 28, 2014 at 10:38 am said:
  
  Thanks very much for checking them out, I had fun watching this cool bird!
  
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Leslie N. on October 25, 2014 at 4:16 pm said:

So glad you captured that fellow taking off and that I was able to watch you both in action! Thanks for posting so quickly – your photos are spectacular, as always. It was an honor and a pleasure for this novice to be an observer.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 28, 2014 at 10:40 am said:
  
  Thank you so much for your very kind words I truly appreciate you looking and commenting. It sure was fun to see this great looking eagle wasn’t it?! 🙂
  
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Gunta on October 25, 2014 at 8:00 pm said:

Amazing stuff, as usual, Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 28, 2014 at 10:40 am said:
  
  Thanks a bunch for checking these out Gunta!
  
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Mike Powell on October 25, 2014 at 9:41 pm said:

Incredible action shots, Phil. I certainly wouldn’t complain if a bird like that flew so close that I couldn’t fit him in the frame. though I probably would have unconsciously ducked my head when the eagle started getting larger and larger in the viewfinder, causing me to miss the shot.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 28, 2014 at 10:43 am said:
  
  It’s not so bad when it’s a bird coming in close Mike. When I shot pro football and suddenly all I could see were numbers filling my viewfinder and getting bigger that I knew I should really get out of the way!
  Thanks very much for looking and commenting.
  
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The Lite Rider on October 26, 2014 at 9:45 am said:

Nothing like being buzzed by a top of his food chain guy. Close!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 28, 2014 at 10:44 am said:
  
  Sometimes I’m convinced these birds do stuff like this simply because they can. They will often buzz over a group of ducks and get them all in a panic just for fun.
  
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foxleylady on October 26, 2014 at 10:40 am said:

Phil, these picturesare a joy! The background, the colours, the detail – all just beautiful! The story of David and Goliath comes to mind here!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 28, 2014 at 10:45 am said:
  
  I’m so happy you enjoyed seeing this young eagle Maggie! I had a lot of fun watching him. 🙂
  
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artsofmay on October 26, 2014 at 10:38 pm said:

Magnificent!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 28, 2014 at 10:45 am said:
  
  Thanks much for looking and commenting!
  
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Lyle Krahn on October 27, 2014 at 7:55 pm said:

Fantastic. What a thrill to get him so close.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 28, 2014 at 10:46 am said:
  
  Any day you see a bald eagle is a good day.
  
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lynn on October 29, 2014 at 5:45 pm said:

What great pictures! Thank you for sharing!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 30, 2014 at 1:45 pm said:
  
  Thanks for checking them out and glad you enjoyed seeing the young eagle!
  
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