Eagle fest!

I recently attended the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival in Homer, Alaska. As the name suggests, the shorebirds co-operated wonderfully, but it is real hard for a visitor to ignore the abundance and tameness of the lingering Bald Eagles in and around Homer spit.

a recently fed immature Bald Eagle, digiscoped in Homer, AK with Leica APO Televid spotting scope and Leica C-Lux-2 camera

The eagles were very prevalent and all plumage types were represented. The bird above was likely born last summer and you can see from its bulging crop that it has fed recently!

this youngster was digiscoped with the Leica APO Televid 77 & the Leica C-Lux 2 camera in Ninilchik

I was too close to fit the entire bird above in the frame and backing up would have meant falling down a steep 20' bank and landing in the Ninilchik River. I know what you're thinking, "tough life!" I couldn't agree more. The locals don't really even pay any attention to these birds and many even consider them as a nuisance. I heard comments like, "...at least most of the Eagles are gone now". It's funny how the grass is always greener...

Note how in all plumages the Bald Eagle's prominent beak is always notable. This is one of many characters that can help you separate Golden Eagles from young Bald eagles in a perched view and closer views in flight.

4 year old Eagle digiscoped on a Homer, AK rock pile

Leica APO Televid 77 & Leica C-Lux 2 digital camera

By the fourth year of life, Bald Eagles start to resemble the more familiar adult plumage. The head has begun to whiten up, the bill has begun to turn yellow and the tail is mostly white with a dark tip. The bird above was included for scenic value but the image below shows plumage characteristics better.

4 year old Bald Eagle, digiscoped Homer spit

Leica APO Televid 77 & Leica C-Lux 2 camera

After giving seminars, and working the booth each day, I'd slowly bird back toward the hotel at the end of the Homer Spit. Along with other great birds like Marbled Murrelets, Glaucous Gulls, Common Murres, and even Fork-tailed Storm Petrels (among others) this was also a great spot to observe the Eagles as currents would often wash food up on the rocky beach behind the hotel.

adult Bald Eagle digiscoped at Land's End, Homer spit, Alaska

Leica APO Televid 77 & Leica C-Lux 2 digital camera

An adult Bald Eagle gazes fiercely at other nearby eagles as it gobbles scraps left by the tide.

adult Bald Eagle digiscoped Leica APO Televid 77 & C-Lux 2

When another eagle came close, the eagle above would puff up, waddle, throw its wings up, chitter at the intruder, and sometimes grappel. The bird above was trying to look as big and as mean as possible..... Sure, I was scared, but I took the image anyway! ;p

On one evening, I watched with a couple other birders as a Black-legged Kittiwake fed an adult Bald Eagle... well sort of. The adult below plucked this adult kittiwake out of the air and proceeded to eat it. At first it was unclear as to how the Eagle was able to catch the deft Black-legged Kittiwake out of the air so easily, but as the eagle lifted to a nearby perch it became obvious. The Kittiwake trailed a long piece of monofilament with a heavy lead weight attached 5 feet below.

We watched as the eagle proceeded to eat its prize hoping it wouldn't get hooked as well, but it seemed to avoid this somehow. (check out the birds neat white talon on the right foot)

adult Bald Eagle eats a Black-legged Kittiwake, Homer, AK

Homer, Alaska never ceases to amaze me and if you have never been I highly recommend a visit. The eagles are just one of the many highlights which include views of Harbor Porpoise, Sea Otters, and numerous sea birds from land, but more on that later.