But today, V was able to get a good look as it flapped over him from behind the barn when he went to let out the chickens. It appears we have an immature bald eagle hanging around the farm. Pretty cool! We're close enough to the river that we often see eagles soaring over the meadow but this one seems to be sticking around and resting/roosting in the trees. Makes me glad we put a roof over the chicken run and that we're not letting them free range.
You captured a "V" of flying geese in the picture, too!
ReplyDeleteMama Pea- I do really love that photo. There is so much going on and I really like the colors as well.
DeleteJ
A beautiful photo! And so neat to have your own resident eagle.
ReplyDelete2 Tramps- It is pretty cool to have a resident eagle. They overwinter on the river near here. Below the dam on the reservoir and below the roller dam in town as well since there is open water there year round. But with the weather this year being so mild, they have been straying further afield.
DeleteJ
Hi.. I just came across your blog and love your writing..
ReplyDeleteIt must be neat to have an eagle so close by.. I love it when we happen to see one..
God bless..
Faye- glad you stopped in. Thanks for dropping in and glad you enjoy it.
DeleteJudy
I'm glad you have a covered run. Our neighbor has lost quite a few chickens to these big birds. They're indeed beautiful and fun to watch, but not when they're snacking on your poultry!
ReplyDelete:D
I totally agree! I definitely don't want my hens to be an eagle snack!
DeleteIt's wonderful to be able to enjoy their company while not having to worry about your chicks. How exciting!
ReplyDeleteThey are so fun to watch. And they are so huge!
DeleteI like the geese in the photo too! We had a juvenile hanging out too, because our lakes froze so late this year. Not in our yard though, cool!
ReplyDeleteThis is the first year I remember seeing them hanging out in the yard. I've seen more this year than I ever have- of course, this is only our third winter here.
DeleteCool! Keep those hens under wraps LOL!
ReplyDeleteWill Do! I do remember seeing some eagles out East when we lived there as well.
DeleteRaptors are so beautiful and a sign of healthy diversity! I do worry about the chickens at our place being outside during the day--but my thought is prey beware! Survival of the fittest as long as I take precautions & provide an escape for the hens. This summer I had an owl get 5 hens in the night before I realized it was not a 4-legged predator and all the electronetting in the world would not keep it out! I felt bad because i had not protected them.
ReplyDeleteWe have seen such an explosion of diversity since we moved here. I think the fact that this land had been so heavily grazed for so many years had really depleted the diversity. Since we aren't grazing it and have stopped mowing a large portion of the land, we have seen so many raptors- eagles, hawks and owls. We've even got a great horned owl that nests here. Now THAT is cool as well!!
DeleteThat is neat that you have them around. I think it brings good luck. Of course not for free range chickens! Good your are under roof! We have had a red tailed hawk here since we moved here in 1991 to this house. He comes every so often to catch a bunny, squirrel, Dove or Black Bird. Last time he was here he had a baby squirrel and was eating him on a fence post. One of his favorite spots for dining. Yesterday he swooped down on a flock of Ravens and caught one - Didn't see where he went to eat...but the other Ravens were all squacking and making a terrible racket. ...debbie
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of hoping that this guy/girl keeps coming back. I understand that eagles kind of stake out a territory and keep returning year after year. That would be so exciting to have it come back as a mature adult.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure he's eyed up your chickens -- good thing they are safe. Cool to watch him though!
ReplyDeleteWow, a bald eagle! How exciting!
ReplyDeleteHere we also have "Turkey Vultures", They have to be the ugliest things up close, But they are pretty cool in flight! They sore on the up-drafts and very rarely do they use their wings (only to get off the ground). We also have "Osspree" (SP?) along the water ways, as they are a "Fishing Raptor" and they pair up for life and return to the sane nest each year.
ReplyDeleteA Osspree Story:
When I worked at the Ship yard, One of my jobs was to patrol the yard in a pick-up and we had a pair nesting on-top of a light pole. The nest was huge and they always hatched a few baby's each year. Ans the young learned to fly, the parents would take them to the same spot each evening to fish. This was on the mooring lines of ships that were tied up at the piers for repairs/overhaul. And it was always the same, Mom on one end, Young in the middle and Dad at the other end of the line. Pretty Cool!!
Tom- we've got turkey vultures here as well. They like to catch the thermal updrafts off the meadow in the summer. They are pretty ugly but fun to watch fly. We don't have any osprey here but we've got TONS of other raptors and owls.
DeleteJudy