So, I was out for a New Year's Day ride...cold but sunny today in western MD...and what did I see as I rounded a curve on a country road but a bald eagle! It was having lunch...road-killed deer by the side of the road...but was disturbed by the sound of my engine. It took off and flew gracefully away, right in front of me as I passed.

For forum members out west, I imagine such a scene is commonplace, but in Maryland, bald eagles are still comparatively rare.

Happy New Year, all.

 

Don't see a lot of them around here, though they do have a couple of wintering nesting places near the lakes and rivers. Still, haven't seen too many of them over the years. But, in the last couple of years alone, I've seen four or five while riding the bike. Awesome site, and no better way to reinforce the freedom of the road than by seeing one of those majestic birds.

 

Couple of years back on a warm spring ride to the lake when the Wife and I are treated to the sight of a red tail hawk lifting a three foot long snake out of the ditch line and flying off across a wheat field to the tree line on the other side. Snake was actively trying to wriggle free and coiled around the hawks legs and torso. It was what an Indian friend of mine calls a blessing and that's how it felt to us.

 

Doing T&B in S76C+ in NJ just N. of Trenton we almost hit one.
When I worked for NJSP Aviation Unit we used to take NJ EPA up once a week to track them in the summer.

 

They are back in Illinois along the rivers. I have seen them in MN.

 

We have some nesting in the neighbors pines. Beautiful.

 

I see about 6 different ones a week around here. Probably have a dozen nesting sites within a mile of my house. Magnificent creatures.

 

This is a site in Iowa where you can watch a live video feed of a pair of bald eagles. The same two return each year to hatch and raise their young. The nest is in a tree over a fish hatchery, plenty of fish.http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

 

When I was stationed in Maryland I saw them all the time along the Hudson.

 

Here's on near my house:



Bald eagle,South shore boat club.