I heard the angry scream of an eagle behind me.
Turning around I missed the shot of a two or 3 year old eagle speeding through the trees.
What I did get was this 4 year old eagle.
Mad, angry, and in pursuit of the immature eagle that had preceded it past my line of sight.
I have no idea of why the chase but it sure set my heart racing.
I was out with the Army Corps of Engineers during their part of the annual hydrilla survey.
Hydrilla is a nasty invasive plant in lakes and waterways.
Around the bend came a fledgling eaglet.
He was very concentrated on his prize – a piece of pine bough.
The fledglings of eagles and ospreys both have a habit of doing this.
I am not sure why the urge to pick up and carry – maybe practice for catching fish, maybe for future nest building.
Or, just sheer curiosity on the young one’s part.
When he suddenly saw the boat, the startled eaglet dropped the branch and disappeared over the tree line.
The sheer bulk of Godiva makes the strength showing in her wings all the more impressive.
Like all female bald eagles, Godiva is large, arrogant and owner of her share of the lake.
Hershey flew past, following his mate Godiva by a few minutes.
I hadn’t seen them in a while.
They made me smile with the simple joy of watching their flight.
This is Hershey.
This time it was an adult eagle that pursued the immature osprey.
The osprey made several swoops, dives and tight turns, but ended up dropping the fish.
It flashed past the eagle who chased it all the way to the lake’s surface.
The eagle never caught up to the fish.
Neither bird got to have a meal.
The catfish can be seen just below the bow of the eagle’s right wing.
doc ellen's journey 