[birding] Eagle Count Trip

[Paul Rentz]

First, thanks to all who shared their 'egret menus'! Must have been
fascinating to see those captures!

 

Second, I was most fortunate to ride along on the official eagle count in
Finley Friday. I joined up with Dave and Wayne who had already finished the
Ankeny count of, what I remember to be four immatures and two adults. Our
count at Finley was four of each. I've included a link to photos of three of
the four- plus a few other finds.

 

Our trip- We first entered from the west side on Bruce Road. Our first
sighting was west and north of McFadden's Marsh in the prairie area as one
flew over head then landed in the trees that boarder between McFadden's and
the prairie area, due east of the overlook. In the small marsh area north of
Bruce Road were various waterfowl that a harrier was harassing- first time
I've witnessed such aggressive behavior toward larger ducks by a harrier.
Pintails and mallards soon left the area and I was able to get some pictures
of them in flight. 

All of the immature bald eagles (our counts were all bald eagles) we spotted
were distant and in dark areas. I was ready to put the camera away as the
light was quickly falling but once we came over the hill on that back road
to the northern end of Finley we came upon the elk herd- and two adult
eagles across the marsh- plus an amazing site of so many swans. I told Dave
to put me on his list for the next count of whatever that would be,  to be
able go back in this area, as otherwise it's all off limits- what a treat!
So the camera came out again although the results weren't the greatest. To
make it easier to follow, start at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rushhourphoto/3204477798/in/set-721576043992547
70/ and then you can use the 'slide show' feature on the right to view the
other photos from Friday (they go to the left).

 

Paul Rentz

 

PS: My next goal is to go with my pilot friend high over Finley too. We were
up last week by time constraints put that out of the limits. There is a two
thousand foot ceiling over Finley to protect the wildlife (and the planes
too, I imagine, after seeing that incident in NY not far from where I used
to live 1967-1979- and that was a commercial jet) but it still should be
interesting.

 

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