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.

Godiva

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.

Hershey 2

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.

eagle distant

From down the hill, through the trees, I heard an osprey scream and then it flashed past the branches.
There was an immature bald eagle in aggressive pursuit of the fledgling osprey.
Frantically I followed the action, trying to get down the boat ramp.
I watched the eagle smack into the osprey, I missed that shot…
but the eagle didn’t miss the fish the osprey had just dropped.
The osprey’s empty talons says it all as the triumphant eagle bows away with its prize.
Wish the photo was clearer, but, alas…
eagle and osprey

This is Amicus.
He appears to be an elderly eagle.
But I have no way to tell his age other than he is more than 5 years old.
Yet, there is something, an infusion, that speaks of ancient wisdom within his gaunt face.

Amicus head detail

You just never know when an eagle will appear – or where it will land.
In this case the landing pad is one of the warning signs at the Jordan Lake dam.
The eagle balanced on the thin edge for four minutes.
My friend and I were still discussing the strange perch when a second adult eagle came up river.
The second eagle flew by the first eagle. Neither bird made a sound or seemed to notice each other.
The second eagle soared out over the dam and on to the lake.
The first eagle eventually gave up its balancing act and flew a very short distance – and this time landed in a pine.

WALK7499 Jul 14 2015 @ 10-40-11 Haw River eagle on sign