The osprey hit the water at a steep angle and disappeared under the surface.
He slowly emerged and then went under again.
I knew he had a large fish he was fighting…
about a one pound bass.
raptors
CategoryEagle Family Report 3/14/2016
Eagle Family Report: Oh, my, my, my!
I got my first glimpse of a chick in the Eagle Family nest.
That is mom Kate touching the chick with her beak.
At the moment the eaglet is a light grey fluff ball with big eyes and a big beak.
If you go to the Arkive site (one of my favorite wildlife sites) at https://shar.es/1YXPoz
you can see an excellent closeup photo of a chick – wish I had the set up for that kind of photo!
Kate and the Intruder
Kate was surveying the cove when she saw an intruder.
It was another fully mature female bald eagle. One I did not recognize.
Instantly Kate was out of the nest and above the other female.
Kate stayed in the higher position, talons dangling in a threat posture.
She herded the other female out of the cove. Both eagles were screaming.
When Kate got the intruder far enough out over the main lake, she turned and bolted for the nest.
Mom mission accomplished.
to see a short slide show of the interaction, please go to https://flic.kr/p/EKGqCA
Ace and the Thief
Ace the osprey had caught a small fish.
He then changed directions in the air to head back to his nest.
An immature herring gull wanted the fish.
Ace tried to hold on to the fish so he could feed his mate Amelia………
to see the full sequence of the struggle, please go to https://flic.kr/p/E3nQ88
they are back!
Yeah! The ospreys are back at the lake!
They have been spotted from north to south and side to side on the shorelines.
This male osprey has gotten himself a fine fish for his supper.
Hershey’s challenge
I watched, amazed, as Hershey the smallest male bald eagle on the lake set his talons and took this huge carp.
Hershey weighs about 10 pounds. The common carp weighs at least 2 pounds.
Hershey never got the fish more than 3 feet above the water.
He essentially crashed landed on the shore and flopped over on the fish.
He stood up, jumped all over the carp, and eventually left the carp on the shore.
This is the only time I have seen any eagle take a carp!
doc ellen's journey 