Nestoration continues

 Still no eggs that can be confirmed but both eagles were seen together working on the construction. The female left first, rather suddenly, flew and landed in a nearby tree and left again. 

Egg Watch

 Yesterday, I watched as one of the adult Bald Eagles brought in soft nesting material, an indication that they are preparing for eggs in the nest.

Today, January 19, the pair was looking cozy together on a tower within sight of their nest. They mated later (no photos) so now I am on "egg watch."

 

Chasing Eagles

Today it was very very cold in Virginia Beach. I spent most of the afternoon driving my SUV around the Honey Bee area simply trying to locate the resident Bald Eagles. Initially, I found a juvenile eagle on the cell tower. Then I found a second juvenile close to the North Landing River. I had been told that they had been around earlier in the morning.  Finally, while I was driving my SUV, I saw the juvenile being attacked and chased off the cell tower by an adult Bald Eagle. Lucky for me, both eagles flew in my direction. I exited my vehicle and since the course was closed, I walked across the fairway where the juvenile had landed, just in time for it to take off. But wait!!! The adult (not sure which one) put its legs down and landed in the tree right in front of me!! I was so lucky!! It did not stay long but I was so cold I needed to get back into my SUV!! So I did and made my way home!

Start up again 2022

 After a long absence due to the illness and death of my husband, I am trying to get back to blogging. This Bald Eagle blog is primarily an explanation of my photographs during nesting season but the writing part is taken mostly from my personal notes. 

Today was another cold day in Virginia Beach. I wanted to check the Honey Bee nest today as last year on January 11, 2021,  I saw the male and female mated pair trade places in the nest, suggesting a "nest exchange," which means that egg incubation is under way. It's when one comes into the nest and "relieves" the other and sits on the new egg or eggs.

Today, both Bald Eagles brought soft nesting material into the nest. This may be an indication that a nest cup is being constructed for up coming egg laying.

2 Eaglets in the nest!

I got my first look at the baby eagles today! I saw two through the binoculars but could only get a photo of one.

Here are the photos of the mom eagle bringing in a fish for her babies.

Mom in the nest

The female Bald Eagle in the nest today. The eaglets are approaching 2 weeks of age. At about two weeks, it is possible for them to hold their head up for feeding.

The Many Faces of a Bald Eagle

I am thinking that this is the female Bald Eagle. She was out of the nest when I arrived and the mate was in the nest, as the chicks still need brooding in this cold weather. She flew in and perched above the nest, always on the alert as her mate did some feeding and house keeping.

Post script from Sunday

I stayed for a while after all my photographer friends had left the nest area. I was hoping to see the Bald Eagle pair at sunset, hopefully settling in for the night. I was provided with a photo op.

Hatching!!!

It appeared there was a behavior change of the adults on Friday, February 21 which carried over to Saturday, February 22. There were several instances of both adults being at or near the nest plus, I had the date of incubation beginning 5 weeks earlier. Incubation typically lasts from 34-36 days but it's sometimes difficult to ascertain from ground observation, as the eagle doing the incubating is often way out of sight in the nest.
I had spent a good amount of time at the nest on Saturday but my timing may have been off as I never saw any prey items being brought in, an indication that hatching has occurred. Several minutes after I called it a day, I received a call that prey had in fact been delivered to the nest!!! A sure sign that things had changed and there was at least one chick in the nest!
When I went back the following day (Sunday) I was able to see a feeding take place.

Small fish for lunch!

Feeding the chicks

Feeding the chicks, checking territory

Nest Exchange: NOT! 2.10.20

I saw two incomplete nest exchanges this afternoon. I am thinking that this is the male who was twice waved off by the female incubating the eggs. I have learned that generally, the female calls the shots regarding incubation. In this case, she didn't make a sound but perhaps the male is a mind reader! It continues to be a challenge telling these eagles apart in poor lighting conditions.

Landing in the nest tree.

 Awaiting instructions.

Leaving the nest tree.

 Landing in the guarding tree.

Leaving the guarding tree. He stayed just 2 minutes!

Flying down to the North Landing River.

Blog is Resuming!

Greetings!
After much soul searching, I am resuming this blog. It's time consuming for me but I have received much appreciated feedback that folks enjoy the stories behind the many Bald Eagle photos that I post on the Honey Beeagles and More Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/HoneyBeeagles/ .
To update: I have still been observing the Honey Beeagles since last August, 2019. I had stopped by the nest then and discovered a Bald Eagle in it.

After that, I increased my surveillance of the neighborhood, the golf course, and the eagle perching places. I was able to determine by September that the Bald Eagle pair that I was seeing were the same pair that nested on Honey Bee Golf Course, 6th hole the last 2 seasons, in the "nest that HK built."
The last several months, the pair have added sticks and soft bedding material to the nest. Indeed, egg laying has been confirmed and the pair have been incubating eggs since around mid January.  I don't know exactly when egg laying began,  so I will be watching for possible hatching behavior from the adult eagles beginning on Valentine's Day. Incubation is about 34-35 days. When the eggs have hatched, the adults will be bringing prey to the nest to feed the eaglets. That is when things get really interesting.
Here is a photo of the pair from yesterday (2.7.20). This was a "nest exchange." The adults change places while incubating the eggs, to give each other a break. I believe that's the female on the left. She flew in to relieve the male who had been on the eggs for about 90 minutes.

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!