More fun with Eagles
It turns out living 10 minutes away from a notable Bald Eagle hangout is kinda fun. Especially so as you move through spring into Summer and the number of birds that show up grows — I made it out there again and this time, hit a new personal high with 26 Bald Eagles in view at one time. It’s a place that when the tide is low enough exposes some rock and mud flat areas, and which can trap some of the local fish in pools, which the eagles (and other birds) appreciate.
The fish they’re hunting is a toadfish called the Midshipman. They are, honestly, butt ugly, but the birds don’t care. It’s also a nice area for clams, and some birds, especially the gulls, will search for those, haul them up into the air, and drop them onto rocks until they crack so they can be opened. This is especially fun when one does that ten feet from you without warning.
These are, by far, my favorite shots of the visit. I clearly nailed it here (and no, I did not crop any of the birds out of the frame).
Other species can be seen here as well, of course. There can be up to a dozen Great Blue Herons here at low tide, and the crows and ravens are around as well, as well as a good number the local Glaucous-Winged Gulls. In winter we can get various ducks, but most of those have left for the summer.
The Eagles, of course, are the star of the show, and they rarely disappoints…
