Thursday, February 9, 2012

A Very Big Bird Sitting on a Utility Pole


The day started out gray and cold - bone chilling cold.  I had some errands to run in Thief River Falls around noon, so I took my Prius out for a spin.  My Prius has heated seats.  Back when I bought the car a couple of years ago, I didn't think I'd have reason to appreciate a hot seat.  On a day like today, I'm glad I did.  Brrr.

As I headed east on Minnesota State Hwy 1, I started scanning the utility poles.  I haven't seen a Snowy Owl in a couple of weeks so I was hoping to spot one.

Just before the curve at the road near the Viking turn off, I spotted something very big sitting on top one of the utility poles.  It was easily twice the size of a Rough-legged Hawk.  Its posture said:  eagle.  But it did not have a white head.  Maybe a young bird, I thought.  Maybe something else.

Do I pick up my camera - or my binoculars?

As I went for my camera, tapped my turn signal and pulled off the highway - the bird leaned forward and started to push off its perch on the pole.  Fortunately for me, it flew north - right in front of my car.  I rolled down my window, focused and clicked.


The wings were a mottled black and white, but it just didn't look like a Bald Eagle.  It wasn't until I got back home and downloaded the photos that I realized what it was:  a Golden Eagle!

A Golden Eagle.  Just another day on the beach here on Glacial Lake Agassiz...

Way cool!

1 comment:

  1. Your narratives and photos are always compelling! Thanks, Heidi!

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