Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive

It’s been a while for me since the sun has been out on a birding day. And that made for a great raptor day at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. Starting out with Bald Eagles and their Eaglet and finishing up with a close encounter with a Northern Harrier.

Momma Bald Eagle standing watch as the sun is coming up

The baby Eaglet just woke up and is wondering where’s the food

Dad is flying off to find breakfast

As the sun comes higher up, momma starts wondering about who’s watching down there

No longer interested in me, it’s time for preening

Gotta scratch that itch!

Getting ready to move…

…down to a lower branch

Bringing back a small addition for the nest

Getting closer with the stick from a pine tree

Climbing higher to get to the nest

The Eaglet watches momma place the new stick in the nest

Momma Eagle and her Eaglet

Momma looks around while the little one stretches

Now that's a big stretch! Notice the fathers coming in at the ends of the wings.

Momma and baby

Northern Harrier Flying a bit far out

Immature Red Shouldered Hawk

Immature Red Shouldered Hawk scratching an itch

Making sure everything is good under there

Puffing things up a bit

Looking at things with a different point of view

Calling out

Peregrine Falcon watching the unsuspecting ducks below from a power pole

Immature male “Grey Ghost” Northern Harrier

Osprey diving for fish

Osprey dragging a large fish across the water

Osprey gets the big fish airborne

Flying away with its catch is not as easy as it seems…

…when other Osprey want to steal it from you!

The Osprey takes some evasive moves to keep its catch

The effort pays off and the Osprey keeps its fish

Northern Harrier flying in low

The Northern Harrier turned and flew up the road towards me

Northern Harrier turning her head to see what’s below

Flying even closer

Northern Harrier flying closer to some brush

As the Northern Harrier passed, she flew up slightly to get one a bush

Now past the brush, she’s now over a small pond

Getting very low to the grass along the water

That was a very raptor day at Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive! There were actually a lot of other “regular” birds and many gators trying to warm up. But those pics will be for another trip there!