I am continuing with photos from my close encounter with the bald eagle from last week's "Winged Wednesday."
View attachment 56145
The eagle is eyeing the coot that got away and is about to enter a dive. The coot is above water and watching the eagle's acrobatics.
View attachment 56148.
Another dive that was easily dodged by the coot's timely dive underwater.
View attachment 56146
Eagles can be incredibly lazy and frequently scavenge for food. He expended a lot of energy on his failed coot hunt.
We were fortunate that he chose a perch close by for rest and repair.
View attachment 56147
After a short rest, the eagle is obligated to groom himself. In this photo, the eagle was erecting all his feathers and shaking them out; then smoothing them down again.
The falconer’s term for this behavior is “rousing.” Correct feather alignment is essential for health and flight.
View attachment 56149
The rousing continues or perhaps he's asking, "Why me Lord."
