Adult Bald Eagle on the wing over a flooded flat – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 800, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
Two days ago I went to my local grocery store a bit later in the morning than I usually do on days that I don’t go out into the field. As I walked towards my Jeep I heard a familiar call and my eyes turned towards the sky. My eyes scanned the sky and locked onto the bird that I knew was in the area just from hearing that single call.
I could see a Bald Eagle being chased by a gull in the sky and my heart skipped a beat because I know it is time for me to keep an eye on the sky for Bald Eagles again. Where I live in the Salt Lake Valley I only see Bald Eagles a few months of the year and that is during the winter. I see the eagles at my local ponds, in my neighborhood, along the Jordan River perched in trees, and soaring in the sky. In the city. Yes, at this time of the year the Bald Eagles I see close to home are urban birds.
After I finished my grocery shopping I went to see if I could find the Bald Eagle I had seen earlier perched in a tree and checked out the areas around the Jordan River but couldn’t locate it. That is okay though, I know I’ll see one soon. As I have mentioned here before I am never not looking for birds which is part of the reason why I find so many of our feathered friends.
Life is good.
Mia
The Bald Eagle in the photo above was photographed on a windy February morning at Farmington Bay WMA in 2019.
Click here to see more of my Bald Eagle photos plus facts and information about this species.
One of my favorite birds has always been the Bald Eagle. I have been watching the live bird cams at Decorah Iowa (Mom and DM2) for many years. I am lucky to be able to see many Bald Eagles in my area, I live near the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. ” I am never not looking for birds” has become a philosophy of mine since finding your website Mia. I now look more closely at the birds around me and was so excited a few weeks ago to see a pair of Northern Flickers land near my garden and begin pecking in the dirt! I got a few grainy pictures through a window with my cell phone and was terribly disappointed so I have purchased a better camera to be able to get better pictures in the future.
Thanks to you and Ron, I am also never not looking for birds (even though I don’t photograph them).
That is great, always fun to find an Eagle. I should check the river, there are a few spots where the water stays open and I have seen bald Eagles there.
” I am never not looking for birds”, seems the story to my life, only in a slightly skewed manner, since begging rehabbing birds . I can’t even go on a mt bike ride without finding something injured lately! Tundra Swans still showing up but harder to catch, injuries less sever. The last few impossible to catch, so I hope they can recover in the wild.
Lucky, lucky you. My eyes on the sky would never/will never gift me with a Bald Eagle (though I will have other joys).
I have never seen Bald Eagles “in town”. That would be awesome to see while grocery shopping. I have an old “point’n’shoot” tucked under my driver’s seat just for such occasions.
I just love Bald Eagles. We have Cams on two of the nest here in Florida and this year Harriet and M15 had a second clutch and one of the eaglets stayed around and entertained us up until a few weeks ago. It helped many get through the summer of Covid 19. Always look to the sky!