Date:         Tue, 5 Dec 2000 08:49:47 -0500
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         "Rob (Robert) Hilton" <robert@CSA.COM>
Subject:      Golden Eagle - MD  12.3.00
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Forwarded by request of Kerrie Kirkpatrick.

Rob Hilton
imprisoned in Bethesda raptor hell (-;

>Advanced Raptor ID Class, led by Bill Clark,  Blackwater NWR, 3  Dec.
>
>We especially hoped for Bald and Golden Eagle (thanks Marshall Iliff)
>and were quite successful.  Goal was to study plumage and molt
>characters for species, age and sex
>determination.  Concentration of all-day trip was raptors; about 60
>total species seen.
>
>Highlights: 4 individual Golden Eagles
>        18 Bald Eagles in one spot
>        many northern harriers and red-tails
>        Short-eared Owl
>Non-raptors: 2 great egrets (thanks, Harry Armistead)
>        dozens of greater yellowlegs
>        flock of Am. pipits
>        Delmarva fox squirrel.
>Details:
>        Golden Eagle - all with golden crown and nape
>        1. Juv. - Large clean white area on tail and lagre white wing
>patches
>        2.  Sub-ad. - Oval whitish-gray area in tail; small (2 feathers)
>white wing patches
>        3. & 4. - All dark birds interacting as pair.  First seen
>perched in
>same tree; one noticably  larger.  After several minutes of observation
>through scopes, one flew slowly off along tree line, followed shortly by
>second.  Group drove to Visitors Center to report birds and encountered
>the adult pair overhead.  They were watched circling and interacting
>for several minutes, meanwhile staff and visitors were alerted.  Many
>excited folks saw their first golden eagles from the parking lot!
>        Bald Eagles were actively hunting in a marshy area quite close to the
>road.  Several exciting food snatching and chasing behaviors were
>witnessed.  During and in-between actions, typical plumages of each of
>the 5 ages were noted and studied at close range.  Most interesting was
>a quick waving/rocking motion made by one bird as several of us dashed
>across the road to see the outcome of a tail-chase at the other end of
>the marsh.  This is thought to be a 'human approach' warning indicator.
>It fit in this case!  Most exciting was a young eagle that 'bumped' an
>adult off its perch, then chased until the adult turned, flared and
>grabbed the harassor's talons!  They cartwheeled through the air (as
>seen on television) and out of sight  behind a hedgerow!!
>
>Kerrie Kirkpatrick
>Falls Church VA
>

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