I had a great lunchtime walk around Schoolhouse Pond today.  A large 
number of raptors were about, including 3 Bald Eagles.  The highest eagle 
was an adult, but two younger birds jousted with each other closer to the 
pond.  One was a 1st year eagle, while the other was in mostly adult 
plumage, with a few white flight feathers.  The birds repeatedly flew at 
each other, ocassionally flipping on their back in mid-air and almost 
locking talons.  They appeared to collide at least once or twice as well.  
This aerial display went on for several minutes until the birds drifted 
out of sight, still harrassing each other.

Also present was a flyover adult Red-tailed Hawk, an early Osprey, and an 
adult Cooper's Hawk that narrowly missed catching a Cardinal.  Other birds 
included a Brown Creeper, Song & White-throated Sparrows, Red-bellied 
Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, and several Flickers.  This morning, an 
Eastern Phoebe was on a low snag flycatching near the water. 

Fred Shaffer
Patuxent MOS