Another Trip to the South Apopka Eagles

The hurricane went through the state during the week and closed almost all of the birding places we wanted to go to. The good news though is that the South Apopka nest made it through. Today we went back to watch them continue prepping the nest for the upcoming season.

Now that stick is not going to add much to the nest

The eagle couple positioning the new tiny stick

Bringing back some kind of breakfast.  It was hard to tell if it was a frog or part of a opossum 

Flying in with breakfast past one of the perching trees

The other eagle returned to the nest to share breakfast

This is how eagles play with their food, throwing it around and grabbing it midair

One of the eagles flew down to a large puddle on the ground below the nest

Looking over at the photographers watching

Bath time! 

A wet eagle

Water flying as the eagle shakes its wings

Just enough of a puddle to make a great bath tub

Shaking it out

Lots of water drops flying around

After hopping out of the puddle, time for a good shake

The eagle looks like its frowning as it looks back at me

Time to move on, liftoff!

Powerful wings on display as the eagle flys low

Making a turn into the morning light

Showing off the 7 foot wingspan

Climbing higher

Flying right towards me

Turning right in front of me

Flying past one of the perching trees near the nest

Eagle flying past

Flying past in really nice light

Powerful

The eagle moved up to the perching tree to air dry

One eagle on the perching tree with the other near the nest 

Spreading out its wings to air dry a little quicker

Looking around while preening

Who are you looking at?

Drying out those inner feathers

Vacation week is over. While we didn’t get to do the birding that we wanted, we still had an interesting week and saw eagles in action twice. The season is just beginning so we’re looking forward to what’s next!