It was a very good day to be out. The sun and warmth were so nice after the scary cold temps of the last week. Relief seemed to be in the air. This beautiful dog, enjoying the warm-up with his humans, came by and dropped his “Frisbee” at my feet. I was very honored. Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
One of the most beautiful things about winter is having some of these great spots to myself. Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
The lake is frozen, so everyone is hanging out below the dam. Zoom in on the trees and count the bald eagles. I saw at least twenty in the short time I was out there this morning. Very cool. Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
It looks like all the local bald eagle nests we visit are good to go. The eagles are back and doing house keeping. Click on picture to enlarge.
Young eagles are everywhere right now. I got this picture when watching this youngin’ trying to steal fish from one of the adults. Click on picture to enlarge. 
While I haven’t spent too much time out in the bitter cold lately, I was able to get out for a while over the weekend and look for new winter arrivals. Hawks are in abundance and there seem to be some new bald eagle arrivals. I’m also seeing a lot more activity among the bald eagles who nest here, courting and tidying up nests. Of course what we call courtship may mean something completely different to them. Pretty much everything I’ve read about bald eagles (and many other nonhuman animals) comes from a very speciesist perspective and often runs counter to what I have observed just hanging out near them. They have their own reasons for what they do. 🙂 Click on pictures to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
© Chris Taylor
It looks like one of our favorite eagle couples is back at the nest. Both were on the nest, but one took off before I got the picture. How exciting! Click on picture to enlarge.
© Chris Taylor
We were driving by one of the eagle nests we regularly check in on today and to our surprise one of the parents was there. It was so exciting to see her/him back so early. I have no idea if this pair leaves the area after the young ones fledge or if they hang around, but it sure was a nice surprise. Click on picture to enlarge.
We went to see the boys and the nest was empty (I don’t know if they are boys, but I feel they are, so that’s what I’m saying). We figured it was getting close to that time since the last time we were there one of them was sitting in a nearby tree. Here they are on top of some irrigation equipment in a corn field across from the nest. Notice the parent down the way keeping watch. Click on pictures to enlarge.
