Dec 20, 2020
Seeing different behaviours from our eagles
Friday morning we blinked a few times to make sure we were really seeing this. All these photos were taken from inside.
Far to our left, almost just out from the golf course beach, the eagles were eating “something”. At times there were six of them eating, all adults.
It was rather large and the carcass had been dragged from the left to mid photo. Zooming at max.
They had been eating for quite some time before we woke up.
Within a few hours there was nothing left on the ice, no bones and no blood. It was as if this feast had never happened. We were unable to focus more clearly to see what it was but perhaps it was better not to know.
Saturday morning we got up and as is now our habit, rushed to the windows to see what we could see. Over to the right there were two eagles.
This appears to be a juvenile. It had a golf ball in its claw.
It would throw the golf ball and watch it roll away on the ice and then go and pick it up and throw it out again.
We were enthralled. It was actually playing throwing the ball in the air.
Meanwhile possibly the patriarch of the family calmly sat nearby observing the process.
And then there were two. They played with the ball back and forth. When they got too close to papa he flew off a bit, not wanting to be disturbed.
We lost sight of the second juvenile and then it came back and started to hop about.
Oh, it also had a golf ball, two kids on the ice with balls with papa watching in the background. Soon they left the first golf ball and flew off a bit with the second ball which they played with. This all went on for close to 30 minutes or more. We could not believe what we were seeing.
We observed a few eagles to our left. They did not have balls but were flying up and down and chasing each other. The three eagles on our right went to join their friends or family, leaving the balls behind. The balls eventually sunk into the lake as it thawed.
It was a totally astonishing morning.
Actually both Friday and Saturday mornings were outstanding. We have never seen either scenario before. Who knew that eagles played on a frozen lake with golf balls. We are so enjoying our winter thus far. Something totally different from the Isla and we are safe and protected in our own home.
It was difficult to tell by these photos but the lake is definitely on a thaw. Today ( Sunday ) was another amazing day due to nature all around us. Check back for that post tomorrow.
I am like a wee kid. We have some serious snow coming down, starting in about 12 hours. I don’t mind snow and sun, just please keep the rain away.
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Wow just wow!! Seeing those eagles is a priceless gift. Love the pictures.
I will never forget watching those eagles, it is like a movie playing in my head. I wonder how they play in the summer.
That was definitely a treat to see those Eagles playing like that.
The weather is doing a Roller Coaster Ride.
Be Safe and Enjoy a Merry Christmas.
It’s about time.
I think the weather is doing what the rest of there world is doing, being crazy. It really was very special to see the eagles in both scenarios.
How could you not enjoy your winter at home with the eagles putting on such antics for you! I was also very excited about our snow storm today but we have had nothing but rain downtown, hopefully you are getting snow.
Our winter here has been ever so much more than we could have expected. Even the weather has been acceptable. We were so happy to be able to enjoy a real snow storm. Hope we get another.
Those photos are amazing and to actually get to watch the Eagles play like that would be such a treat. Do you have binoculars as well as cameras laying near your windows? Neighbor 3 houses over has a small pond and we get excited when the geese come to visit. There have been 12 that have more or less been staying there for the last month and we hope they stay for the winter. Sometimes in the summer months a Great Blue Heron will come to visit – to see him fly in and land is just so awesome. Thanks for sharing these photos with all of us.
Thank you Sandy. Yes we have binoculars and Colin uses them. But for some reason I have trouble using them with my glasses.Perahps those are some of our geese:) I haven’t seen ay herons since mid November so thy had flown south as well. Lucky them, no border to deal with.
That picture of the patriarch looked to me like he was standing on the ice while lifting his toes off it. I relate to that concept.
I noticed how he was standing as well. He really was very calm as the other two played around him. I thought that he was babysitting.
So. All those ball and claw feet on old furniture didn’t just come out of nowhere. On the other hand, how long have golf balls been around? I just looked up “ball and claw furniture” and there was a lot of information about Chinese origin and dragons’ feet holding the orb of the world. Well who knows. As for the other photos, well, predators are predators. We should all know.
Never thought of that Judith. I guess everything does come from nature, one way or the other.
Really enjoyed your eagle play…kids will be kids! Many years ago we had a litter of Komondor puppies. One night after work when we came home they were no where to be found and then we heard them up behind the house yapping. The were on the bank above the creek sliding down the muddy bank into the water. They’d run back up and actually take turns. Bid smiles on their muddy little bodies. Such fun.
Oh my!! I had to look up the Komondor breed. How interesting, but what a mess to clean those pups up.
Luckily they were outside pups!
Ha, ha! I just can’t imagine you having a pup never mind pups!
Oh my goodness, that was spectacular!!!!! You and Colin are so blessed.
Merry Christmas and loved the funnies.
Merry Christmas to you and yours as well. We certainly have been fortunate with what we are seeing outside this winter.