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12-10-07

Nice today at Coeur d'Alene Lake. Not a crowd of people either. The only negative is that the sun sets at 3:15 at Higgins Point. Oh well, gets me back to the office more quickly. Here is an eagle with a fish. I was busy shooting the real prize when he got it.
	While I was standing there, I saw this other bird. At first I thought it was some kind of gull, but soon realized it was a loon. I thought it was a Pacific loon, but turns out it is a juvenile Common Loon, probably in its first winter.

12-8-07 PM

We're gettin' closer, but how long will this weather cooperate? If you believe, and look REAL hard, you can see the salmon, well its fin, that the eagle is having for dinner.

12-8-07

Boy, today I was in the wrong spot, but there was a guy who got the best view of an eagle getting a fish I have ever seen. He missed the shot, poor guy, but still got some good ones out of the series. Plus, he was right next to these common goldeneyes.
	Early on it was cold but beautiful. This eagle stayed long enough on this tree for me to get this shot.

Then right after I saw an old friend of mine and his wife, this eagle flew to this snag. I was thinking earlier that this would make a good image.
	This is a kokanee salmon, still alive. Kind of an idea of what the birds see.

I remember why I didn't want to shoot an eagle picking a fish, there are way too many people out there! There are more long lenses that at a pro football game! Sheesh! Anyway, Here is a red squirrel. They seem fairly tame out there, but they are quiet, just sit and watch you.
	If you go, look for these ducks called the common goldeneye. They are a VERY pretty duck. The Barrow's goldeneye's spot under the eye looks more like a crescent, both are out there.

I love this behavior of the eagles. I've seen it mostly when one eagle has a fish and another, usually a juvenile, tries to get it away. So it could be thievery but in this case there was no fish involved. I wonder if it is some type of courtship ritual. Its neat to see them barrel roll though.

12-7-07

This morning, a little female hairy woodpecker kept me entertained. She was foraging on the other, underside of this log but kept peeking up and over the log at me. For me it was fun. For her, probably terrifying.
	She lead me to this Bald Eagle. I'm thinking it had a full belly because it sat there the entire time I was there chasing that woodpecker.