Southwest Florida Owls and Eagles

On Sunday we went to Cape Coral to see the Burrowing Owls and the Southwest Florida Eagles M15 and F23. It was a cloudy chilly day and the owls weren’t very active. However, things were different at the Eagles nest. They have a little on, E23, that needs to eat. M15 and F23. put on a great show flying around near the nest. As a bonus for the day, as we returned home, we were able to watch the local Bald Eagles fly around over their nest!

 

Cape Coral Burrowing Owls

 

Burrowing Owl watching me

Burrowing Owls keeping watch

Burrowing owls usually look in different directions to observe more area, but not always

Very cute Burrowing Owl

Burrowing Owl hunkered down

Burrowing Owl sitting deeper in its nest

That’s a serious looking stare

Some Burrowing Owls have very dark eyes

The dark eyed Owls even have a smaller area of dark yellow

This Burrowing Owl looks surprised

Now that’s a look!

Standing tell to get a better look

Another very serious look

 

Southwest Florida Eagles M15 and F23

 

M15 seen flying through trees as he returns to the nest

M15 returning with nesting materials

M15 on approach to the nest with new nesting material

M15 lands in the nest as F23 watches

M15 flew to the field by the driveway. I could only see him through the fence from where I was standing

M15 takes of from the field

M15 with a lot of confidence in the branch he’s about to land on

M15 preening

M15 doing more preening

M15 preening some longer feathers

Preening time is over! Time for M15 to take flight

M15 banking as he makes a turn over the trees

M15 appears to be looking right at me as he flys back to the nest

M15 flying in front of the far trees

Fast flying M15

M15 proudly flying by

M15 returning to the nest tree

M15 watching over the nest

F23 circling the nest with a piece of fish

F23 flying past the nest tree with a piece of fish

F23 flying very close overhead

F23 turning back to return to the nest

F23 flying between trees as she returns to the nest

F23 landing back into the nest

F23 tends to E23 (not seen in this photo) while M15 watches over them

M15 watches over his family in the nest below

M15 in front of one of the webcams

M15 preening again

M15 puffing up for some deep feather cleaning

M15 shaking out after preening

M15 taking flight again

M15 clearing the nest tree

M15 tucks his feet up as he begins his flight

Closeup of M15 Flying by

M15 flying

M15 flying overhead

M15 flying so close overhead I could not fit all of him in the frame

F23 sitting in the nest with E23 (not seen here) waiting for M15 to return

 

Citrus County Eagles

 

One of the Bald Eagles near our house circling its nest

The pair of Bald Eagles passing each other in the air

Bald Eagle flying in the sun

Bald Eagle looking down at it nest as it flys over

Bald Eagle in flight

Bald Eagle with its wings and tail in full spread

Bald Eagle banking in flight

Bald Eagle slowing down as it returns to its nest

Bald Eagle banking in the afternoon sun

 

That was a full day with an unexpected finish! Raptors of all sizes and types are fun to watch and photograph. Here in Florida they’re all over, both near and far. Just knowing when and where to look for them is all it takes to enjoy them in action.

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Merritt Island and Daytona Eagles

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Celery Fields Harriers