Hi All,

On our way back from taking our car to town for a headlight replacement 
and check-up yesterday (15 March) we noticed a large dark raptor soaring 
just north of the intersection of MD-298 and Buck Neck Road. At first I 
thought it was a Turkey Vulture but it didn't look right in either 
subtle details of shape or flight behavior. Nancy said it was an eagle 
and that's when I decided we'd best stop and take a closer look. Through 
the binoculars we could see a clean broad dark tail band and white 
tail-base, a pale band across the upper wing coverts, a hood of pale 
buff contrasting with a dark face, throat and bill, and the distinctive 
long wings with a subtle bulge in the secondaries. A beautiful sub-adult 
GOLDEN EAGLE. The age was confirmed by the mixed ages of the bird's 
flight feathers. The bird was last seen headed south toward the Melitota 
crossroads. It felt portentous seeing this symbol of Roman power on the 
ides of March.

In other news of spring the spring beauties have burst into bloom in the 
woods behind our house. Take heart, this weather will give way to spring 
in full bloom.

Good Birding,

Walter Ellison & Nancy Martin

23460 Clarissa Rd
Chestertown, MD 21620

phone: 410-778-9568

e-mail: rossgull(AT)baybroadband.net

"Nothing is as easy as you would like it to be, and nothing is as hard 
as you might fear"