P365.2, Day 8 - Life Goal Fail

[grundyscribbling]

After the time I startled an osprey on a low branch, I declared it a life goal to never startle a bald eagle. FAIL. It is very fortunate for me that I had in fact hit the bathroom immediately before going out on the kayak this evening. Bald eagles - even juveniles like this one - are big. And they look even bigger when they're swooping over you all unexpected like.


This photo is more like what I first saw - and part of why I was so confused. I thought osprey except that it was way too big...



Yes, this is the same bird.


Om nom nom...


Peek a boo!

P365 masterpost

Comments

[heartofoshun]

Great picture of the eagle.

[grundyscribbling]

Thank you! :)

[sulien]

Sorry you and the eagle were both startled. Those wings really do sound like thunder when they take off near your head! I once accidentally startled a juvenile who was still learning to fly while I was out walking in the Quinault rain forest (so much moss and ferns hanging from the trees you're not going to see an eagle in the branches unless you're craning your neck and looking hard). I'm just glad momma wasn't too close by, that could have been a very painfully dangerous encounter. I was surprised at how high pitched and squeaky their calls are, they sound like a much smaller bird.

[grundyscribbling]

Honestly, I wonder if the eagle didn't startle because it's still young - if it had been chill enough to stay put, I would never have known it was there at all. (I was on the lookout for otters, not eagles.) Happily, this one was old enough that its parents were probably no where near - it's a couple years old at least.