Southwest Florida Eagles
On the last day of our trip to South Florida, we went to visit the famous M15/F23/E23 nest. This is the first year for M15 with his new mate F23. Their eaglet E23 is huge for 3 months old! It’s already flying steady and even taking food up to the nest that one of its parents got for it.
When we arrived, E23 was sitting on a snag watching the sun come up
E23 jumped up to begin flight…
… and flew down and towards us with a determined look
E23 flying in hot pursuit of F23 who had a stick. E23 thought it was food
F23 calling out as E23 checks out if the stick was breakfast
F23 giving E23 some space on the nest. They’re both bigger than M15
F23 and E23 making calls
F23 heads off leaving E23 alone again
A Red-headed Woodpecker came to visit
E23 takes off to see where mom went
Not long after that, M15 came back and found a road kill rabbit on the side of a very busy road. He scared all of us as he took off into traffic
M15 safely made it past the traffic and flew to the pond…
… where E23 soon flew in to join him
M15 and E23 both sat just down the bank where all you could see were their heads
After leaving the rabbit for E23, M15 flew over to a favorite snag…
…where he stuck the landing
M15 looking back at the pond where E23 was having rabbit
M15 sees E23 take off and begins following
M15 flying low over the pond area
After taking the rabbit to the “church tree”, E23 takes off again carrying the rabbit in one set of talons
E23 with a good grip on the rabbit
E23 calling out as she approaches
E23 now has two sets of talons holding on
E23 checking the flight path ahead. All clear!
A good detailed look at E23 as she flew right overhead
From what I was told, this is the first flight of E23 bringing its own food to the nest
E23 landing on the “bent branch” just above the nest
A family of Loggerhead Shrikes were in the wood pile out in the horse field
M15 was also back at the nest doing some beak cleaning
E23 flying low over the pond…
…so low that her wings are in the weeds
No wonder she was flying so low and fast. A crow was giving chase!
The crow got close but was smart enough to not get too close
E23 in the “church tree”
E23 doing some beak cleaning too
E23 taking flight again
Gliding through the lower tree branches
E23 sitting on the driveway fence looking this way…
…and back at me!
E23 making a turn. Such beautiful markings on the 3 month old Bald Eagle
E23 returns to the nest
It’s amazing how fast Bald Eagles develop. They are the quickest of all raptors to reach full size (about 3 months). E23 already has about a 7 foot wingspan and stands about 2 feet tall when standing on the ground. M15 and F23 definitely know how to make a powerful Eagle!