This morning, I saw two eagles sitting together in a tree—ah, it must be nesting time. But, before I could get my camera ready, one took flight and so made for even more interesting pictures.
The first picture of the eagle in the tree was actually taken yesterday (included here just to set the stage).
The Kootenay-Lake Website offers more pictures and discussions of local Bald Eagles.
The second picture shows the eagle as it flew out over the lake. To my surprise it lowered its legs. Usually, if an eagle is merely flying, the legs are tucked up. I guessed that it had spotted something delectable below and was about to dive on it. But no, it flew to another tree and grabbed a branch.
The third picture is a composite of two images showing it flying off with a branch. It almost certainly is building a nest somewhere in the vicinity.
It is slow work assembling a nest one stick at a time.
The composite picture is beautiful – such grace.
Leone, I think that at such times, we envy the birds.
I recall seeing a similar ‘sticking’ incident with an osprey at the Balfour Golf course a number of years ago.