EAGLE UPDATE

My next visit to the eagle's nest was on May 7, about 2.5 weeks after the second eaglet was hatched and a week after my last visit.

Fuzzy light gray down still covered the head and shoulders of eaglets, but the rest of the bodies was turning darker from the development of thermal down. The fuzzy light gray down the chicks were born with is natal down which is cute but not very warm. That's why they are brooded for the first two or three weeks. The thermal down is warm enough to allow the eaglets to thermoregulate.

The eaglets were definitely more mobile than last week and able stay erect for longer periods of time before flopping down.

When an intruder violated the air space around the nest, both parents were alerted. The female stayed in the nest while the male stood guard in a snag right in front of us providing great full-frame shots.

After the false alarm life was back to normal. The male returned to his sentry tree across from the lighthouse and eventually went fishing. Not surprisingly, the catch for lunch was a midshipman.

After my eagle visit I decided to take advantage of the sunny day to look for a Taylor's Checkerspot. We drove over to Park Road and checked the nature trail. It took all of a minute to find one of those beautiful little butterflies, but that was it. We didn't see another lep in the next 15 minutes before we headed for the ferry.

MIDSHIPMAN TIME

May is midshipman time in the shallow tidepools around the Pacific northwest. The midshipman fish migrate to the shallow waters to mate. After the females lay their eggs the males are left guarding the eggs which turns out to be a deadly occupation. Eagles by the score congregate around the shallows - some on rocks in the pools and others on treetop perches on the beach. If a midshipman dares to move it is probably suicide.

My first chance to visit Bucaneer Beach was on May 11. There weren't as many eagles around like two years ago, but there were still plenty. It didn't take long to see one jumping off a rock into a shallow tidepool. The sharp talons of the eagle are deadly. It's rare that they miss their prey.

The eagles don't mid getting dirty or wet as long as it results in a tasty lunch.

Quite often the prey is transferred from the talons to the beak, possibly to separate it from the seaweed.

With the fish clamped securely in the bill it's time to find a suitable picnic spot.

This one is headed for its favorite picnic tree on the beach.

Here's another one heading in the same general direction. Sometimes it's just lunch but other times it's food for the eaglets in the nest.

Territorial dispute. It's not unusual to see eagles sharing the same rock, or sometimes one eagle lands forcing the other to depart. It's very unusual to see an eagle warning another not to land on its rock.

There was certainly no ambiguity in the language. I think it was, "Get the f... off my rock!"

What's happening? This eagle circled around then did a power dive right above me and snatched a midshipman out of the water right in front of me. I managed the moment of descent, but the rest was a blur, and a splash, and a view of the rear end as it left with its catch.

Great Blue Herons also get into the act. They aren't fussy about what they catch. If there aren't any midshipman fish around they are quite happy with gunnel fish. I have heard of eagles attacking to steal the heron's catch, but I haven't seen it yet.

Playing tag or stealing the catch. Once in a while you'll see one eagle trying to pirate the prey from another, but in this case I couldn't see if the lower eagle had anything in its claws.

There's a new game on the beach. When the tide is low enough to expose the sandbars there's another fish available. You just have to be fast enough to beat the next eagle.

I was surprised to see sandlance popping out of the sand. Besides the one in the bill there's another by its claw and another just in front of the eagle.

The race is on for another sandlance.

To the fastest goes the spoils.

Sometimes there is a little rivalry, but there was enough for everyone.

There were more eagles further down the beach enjoying the sandlance party.

It was fascinating to see the sandlance pop out of the sand and almost fly.

Just another happy eagle heading off with its midshiman lunch.

The eagles always steal the show but the herons don't mind as they quietly go about there business if fishing.

There was a nice variety of fish at the low tide line.

In a time of 5 minutes the heron had caught 3 different species of fish.

There were only a few gulls around today. They were mostly Glaucous-wingeds and, they were definitely in an amorous mood.

Just a parting shot of an eagle flying low over the water right in front of me with the sun at my back ... a nice way to finish the day.

180514bath-027.jpg - Uploaded successfully 180514bath-049.jpg - Uploaded successfully 180514bath-111.jpg - Uploaded successfully 180528boyle-&-bath-194.jpg - Invalid filename 180528boyle-&-bath-237.jpg - Invalid filename 180528boyle-&-bath-263.jpg - Invalid filename 180528boyle-&-bath-286.jpg - Invalid filename 180528boyle-&-bath-330.jpg - Invalid filename 180528boyle-&-bath-442.jpg - Invalid filename 180423boyle-010.jpg - Uploaded successfully 180423boyle-102.jpg - Uploaded successfully 180423boyle-395.jpg - Uploaded successfully

xxxxx

*********************************************************************************************

Bird Poster

My poster is on display at: Victoria - Swan Lake Nature House. (Note: This poster has been produced in a more manageable size and is now available for $20 unlaminated and $32 laminated.)