June 26, 2019

The female was back this afternoon, perched in the nest tree. I watched her for a little over two hours. She shifted positions a few times and seemed quite comfortable with the comings and goings of the neighborhood folks and with me sitting in my SUV.  The lighting was excellent but I did have to leave her there in the tree.

June 24, 2019

After two days of not seeing the eaglets at Honey Bee,  I returned yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised to find an adult, I presume the female, sitting in the nest tree, right next to the nest.

I observed her for about 45 minutes before she flew for some human visitors to the nest.
I drove around for about 15 minutes, looking for her but to no avail. So, I returned to the nest and waited.
I had waited for about 15 minutes with my friend and photographer Dan, when we heard an eagle call. There she was, in the dead tree across the fairway. She appeared to be waiting for something.....and she had some Crows for company.

Then she unexpectedly took off.

And gave us a few nice flight shots.

So, where are the eaglets?
This was the 3rd day I had not seen them in the area of the nest tree. This was not unexpected. Eaglets need to learn important skills to survive. They can watch their parents, other eagles, perhaps other birds. This first year of life is hard for them (but please do NOT try to feed them!) They may still be in the area...or not.  I did see two immature Bald Eagles this past Sunday perched in a known perching tree off Salem Rd., less than a mile from the nest tree, so still within the territory.  I was over 100 yards away so no way to ID them. But, I can dream!

Eaglet #1 6.21.19

Honey Beeaglet #1 flew over very high up, eventually coming lower and landing in the nest tree. Not sure about #2; thought I heard another eagle down the fairway but could not confirm.

June 17, 2019

Eaglet # 1 flew by with a fish head, apparently flaunting it!

Eaglet # 2 screamed in the nest and the Mom flew in, but without food. Eaglet # 2 was not pleased! Mom left abruptly!

Defending Against an Osprey: Mother Eagle to the Rescue 6.15.19

Eaglet # 1 entertained some nest visitors with some flying demonstrations this afternoon.

As they were leaving, suddenly the air was full of eagle screaming! I turned in time to see #1 come screaming in like a speeding bullet. I'd never seen a eagle fledgling fly at that speed! I was standing by my SUV across the road from the nest tree, so I had a great view of # 1 coming in. The eaglet was screaming all the way in!

 I did not know the reason for this commotion at first, until out of the corner of my eye, I saw an Osprey.
I then watched the obviously frightened and still screaming eaglet land in the nest tree at full throttle.

The visiting folks had also seen a parent eagle arriving to defend its young. I think that's what part of all the screaming was about. I found the adult in the nest tree and in charge!  I believe it was the female. She gave me the eagle eye and surveyed her territory.

Then, as abruptly as she appeared, she left.

The eaglets were still in the nest tree when I left.

Flying lessons by Eaglet #1 June 1

Some action from Saturday from the nest area. That's eaglet #1 in flight. There was a lot of food begging from the adjacent tree. The Mom dropped off lunch and I was lucky to catch her leaving. It was a nice afternoon weatherwise, high in the low 80's.

First Observed Flight May 29

Three photographers, myself included, observed free flights by both eaglets on 5.29.19. The first possible flight was observed on May 25 by several of my friends. Photographs were not successfully taken then.
It was an exciting few minutes watching this milestone in their development and was made even more special as it was shared with friends. The eaglets are just 12 weeks old and will be on their own soon.
 The first pic is when the eaglets were first noticed in a nearby tree.

 Eaglet #1 in flight

Eaglet # 1

Eaglet #1

Eaglet #1

Eaglet #1

Eaglet #1

Eaglet #2

Eaglet #2 in flight. This eaglet has a distinctly different tail feather pattern than its sibling.

Eaglet # 2

Eaglet # 2 in flight

A Parent Comes For a Longer Visit May 24

A quick visit to the Honey Bee nest had a surprise! One of the parent eagles (female, I think) spent some quality time on a branch close to the nest. The eaglets interacted with it, and eventually it made its way higher up in the branch, eventually flying away.