Eagle!

I know they're around, the Bald Eagles, because all my friends have been seeing them. But not me, despite my diligent efforts.  So I didn't really have my hopes up when I snowshoed around Moreau Lake yesterday, having heard reports that an eagle was feeding on a deer carcass laid out on the ice along the back bay.  I would just enjoy the expansive view of forested mountains ringing the lake, the low sun like a round golden pearl,  its soft glow barely penetrating the veil of clouds that were wafting a fine mist of snow.  I did let my eyes survey the row of trees along the shore, but at first glance, I could not see any eagle perching there.

But wait!  Is that a bit of snow up high in that tree?  Or is that an eagle's white head?

My camera's zoom lens could see better than my eyes.  So I saw my Bald Eagle at last!

As I tried to creep closer to obtain a better view, I began to see remnants of the deer carcass scattered across the ice.

There was still quite a bit of dead deer remaining below the eagle's perch, but it was such a bloody mess I won't post its photo here.  At my approach, the eagle flew off, swooping over my head and winging across the lake to disappear beyond the far shore.




Surrounding the carcass were prints from the many animals who had moved in to share the feast: coyotes, mostly, but also ravens and crows.  Most of the prints were muddled by all the commotion, but I did see this series of crow prints tracing a rather elegant pattern on the snow-covered ice.  It made me think of a Greek frieze or a wallpaper border print.  Pretty.

Here's where a crow landed, its spreading tail feathers leaving an imprint that looks like a Thunderbird.  Very cool!