Bald eagle?

19 years ago

Hi,

I just found this forum, and am so happy. The past several years I have become more interested in watching the beautiful wild birds. I live in northwest NJ, 8 miles from the Delaware River.

I have seen 3 or 4 bald eagles in the last 2 winters. A few were moving slowly, or "posing" in a tree. The ID was unquestionable.

My most recent sighting was a very large bird with a white tail flying over my driveway. And this bird was flying like a crow (wings bent and flapping). The amazing part is how low the bird was (maybe 60 feet), and flying really fast (had to be at least 50 MPH).

I have only seen pics of BE perching or soaring. Are they "drag racers" also?

BTW, we have a small pond 50 yards from the house. There are a pair of common mergansers resting-up there. Just amazing.

I have to get a camera.

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Comments (13)

Elly_NJ
19 years ago
Hi Tom,

Well, Bald eagles are great, aren't they? And they do winter in your part of NJ.

I recommend you join a local Audubon. Get a good pair of binoculars, too : ).
tom_nwnj
Original Author
19 years ago
Yes, they are here. I had always heard that they roosted in the Delaware Water Gap (the ridges are quite high). That is near here.

I saw one about 4 years ago Christmas time. Now the last 2 years I have seen at least three, maybe four.

I was driving through Milford PA last December, and one BE almost hit the car. He perched in a tree across the street. I stopped the car and got out. He looked at me for at least 4 or 5 minutes, then he flew off.

The others I have seen near small water features locally.

elly, who would know if BEs, if they wanted to, can fly like "they just robbed a bank" ? Just wonderin'

thanks
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Elly_NJ
19 years ago
What do you mean, fly like "they just robbed a bank"? Bald eagles usually have a shallow wing beat. Can you explain?
stevec_2007
19 years ago
I've seen a couple of hundred bald eagles in the wild and have never seen one fly anything like that. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any large bird that can move that fast except a falcon when it's stooping. Maybe an Osprey?
tom_nwnj
Original Author
19 years ago
Hi elly and stevec,

the bird that I saw on that occasion certainly looked like a BE, (definite white tail) but he was flapping his wings the same as a crow does to fly. But that bird was probably flying at 50mph (I'm just comparing to car speed.)

The point is, I have seen BEs before. They fly like they "own the place". I was just wondering, what do they fly like if they are in a hurry?
cynandjon
19 years ago
Hi Tom,
Im In PA. Ive seen a lot of B.E along the delware. Go up Old mine road, its across from the Park welcome center.It runs along the river.Lots of places to watch them soar. We've seen Juvenille and adult.
you may be north farther, are you past Milford?
tom_nwnj
Original Author
18 years ago
No, I'm in Blairstown, maybe 6 mi from the Delaware River.

I saw two locally, last winter. One was on the Paulinskill (near Paulina dam), and the other I saw while I was walking up my driveway!!

Maybe I'm not good with descriptions, but the latter BE sighting (over my yard), he was not majestically soaring, like all the National Geographic pics show BEs. That bird was in a big hurry, working up a sweat (if birds could sweat).
craig76
18 years ago
I live in Endicott NY. Last winter I took the time to get out and see eagles. We have a few pair in the area. I took a couple of trips to Delaware county NY to see them wintering around the reservoirs.In one week I managed to see ten different eagles between there and here.One immature eagle sat in a tree allowing me to photograph him\her at 20 yards or so.They are beautiful creatures.It's getting that time of year to get out and enjoy them .I would post some of the pictures but I'm not sure how to put them in this forum.
craig76
18 years ago
I took my first winter trip to the Catskills today hoping to see some eagles.I checked a couple of places I've seen them before. NOTHING. I drove route 10 from Deposit up several miles along the reservoir NOTHING. As I was driving back something caught my attention on the dam. I turned around and went back to check it out. On the dam there is a service road. Along the road are concrete post. To my surprise there were 10 eagles sitting on these post. 5 mature and 5 immature. That change my record of ten different eagles in a week to ten in a day . The trip was a last minute thought. I didn't have my cameras with me
pikecoe
18 years ago
I would love to see your pictures. If you still are interested in posting them. And you need some instructions on posting pictures, I'll be glad to help. Just ask. Glenda
craig76
17 years ago
I haven't been on this sight sense my last post. Life!seems to of gotten in the way. I was out the day after xmas.
Again I went to Delaware County.I saw one immature and two adult eagles.I will sit down and add some pictures.
i have to scan them [35mm] to computer then figure out the trick to getting pictures on here
craig76
16 years ago
Well here I am nearly a year later and I haven't put my pictures up nor are they scanned in. Sorry
finchelover
16 years ago
I live in Kansas and I know there are bald eagles around Bean Lake in Missouri but we live NW of there and we have been spotting Eagles in fact one lady said they had a few babies on her farm. Maybe they are spreading out more. I am happy. I love the Bald Eagles.