2020 12-30 Sacramento NWR
BALD EAGLE CLOSE UP INCLUDING FEEDING ACTIVITY, AND MORE...
The sky started off fairly clear with hazy sunshine with light haze due to agricultural burning. As the day progressed high clouds moved in from the northwest in front of a small storm that would eventually bring drizzle overnight. The refuge was crowded with cars and hikers for the first time that I can remember. I suppose lots of people have time off between the holidays, and of course the geese are all here now and the Eagles have begun to show up in good numbers too.
We did have some wonderful looks at snow geese flocks being very restful fairly close to the road on our way on the eastbound leg. Several flocks flew overhead .They flushed for no apparent reason but ended up moving from one side of the roadway to the other to join their colleagues. A family of mule deer crossed the road to feed on some green plants near the edge of the pond (but still close to the road).
Another major photographic phenomenon was the president of a wonderful diversity of raptors along what I call “raptor row” which runs from the viewing platform northward. Here we saw several nice red-shouldered hawks including one large individual with a good angle for photos. Harriers swooped around here and there but not so good for pictures. Two highlights of raptor row were: an adult bald eagle feeding on some sort of bird right next to the road, and a large, adult peregrine falcon. Illumination was perfect and the tree was bare so there were no intervening branches. We parked out of the way and I shot the eagle out of the driver side window for 20 minutes or so. We also spent quality time with the falcon before it flew off.
As we exited the loop and headed to the parking lot to pack our stuff, a docent stopped each car as it entered to review the rules. Also at the parking lot entrance there was a second bald eagle in the tall trees. It was obscured by the branches and foliage so we did not stop to photograph here although there were many others with tripods set up.
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Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--052
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--057
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--063
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--067
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--147
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--171
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--185
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--189
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--200
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--215
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--219
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--229
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--261
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--265
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--305
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--329
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding nictitating membrane 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--397
HaliaeetusleucocephalusBaldeaglefeedingnictitatingmembrane2020SacNWR397
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding nictitating membrane 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--417
HaliaeetusleucocephalusBaldeaglefeedingnictitatingmembrane2020SacNWR417
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--497
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--584
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--597
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--600
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle nictitating membrane 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--707
HaliaeetusleucocephalusBaldeaglenictitatingmembrane2020SacNWR707
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--708
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle nictitating membrane 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--928
HaliaeetusleucocephalusBaldeaglenictitatingmembrane2020SacNWR928
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle head CLOSE 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--944
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--974
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bald eagle feeding 2020 12-30 Sac NWR--1023
