What a delightful surprise this afternoon at Jordan Lake: Captain Doug and I found the parents of the Heron Point bald eagle nest sitting side by side … its about time for this pair to start thinking about the next generation!

bald eagle pair

The eagle was intent upon something way up in the sky. The eagle shifted it’s glance and perched thinking. Suddenly it exploded almost straight up off of the branch and into the air. Captain Doug and I both said at the same time “I haven’t never seen an eagle launch straight up like that”. The eagle hovered then leaned over on its right wing, bent around the tree and was gone. FYI the flight sequence occurred in less than two seconds.

This bald eagle totally, absolutely ignored Captain Doug and I. I wondered what had her attention. Leaning back, I looked up and up and up. All I could see was sky and a few clouds. It was obvious however, because of her attention heavenward, that there was something there that I, mere human, just could not bring into sight.

bald eagle

Captain Doug and I were out cruising the lake last week. We found a young bald eagle surveying the shoreline. We could see that it was at least three years old – heading towards four. The first photo is the left side of the face. The in-flight photo shows you the right side of the face. I think the plumage patterns in the three-year-olds going towards four-year-olds are some of the most spectacular looks on an immature bald eagle.

left side of face
right side of face