Bald Eagle over Bear Island

[rick35]

We were enjoying some floating time today around 4:30 at the south end of Bear near the Camp Lawrence beach when an eagle appeared a few hundred yards away soaring overhead. It then dove for the water, came up with a large fish and turned and flew right over us with the fish in its talons. The fish had to be 12-15 inches long. The eagle was absolutely majestic while soaring but seeing it catch the fish was incredible. Just like on Nat Geo. Made my already great day even better.

[Misha888]

I knew we shouldn't have moved, but that barking dog was all I could bare last time we were there. I couldn't go through another day of it. I don't know how their neighbors cope.

I saw one swoop a squirrel off the neighbors roof once. They're magnificent hunters. Looking forward to the upcoming season. We see them more in the off season.

[fatlazyless]

Supposedly, according to some vague and unknown information source, the eagle(s) are here on Winnipesaukee in the winter, and fly away up north in the summer to Labrador or somewhere. Horse Island has an eagle that makes the tiny island part of its regular daily flight path, all winter long, and it left the area in April once the Canada geese show up.

So, it's a little surprising to hear about a summer eagle.

A conversation between two eagles could maybe go like this; "well yes, we just love the winters here on Winnipesaukee, but as soon as those Canada geese start to show up in April.....arriving from down south ..... don't you know ..... we are so outa here ..... and we prefer to summer up in Labrador than to share the lake with all those geese!"

You understand that a Canada goose usually weighs more than an eagle which weighs from three to five pounds, but without the eagle weapons; talons and beak. While the eagle are more like flghter airplanes....the geese are like bomber planes.

[chipj29]

Supposedly, according to some vague and unknown information source, the eagle(s) are here on Winnipesaukee in the winter, and fly away up north in the summer to Labrador or somewhere. Horse Island has an eagle that makes the tiny island part of its regular daily flight path, all winter long, and it left the area in April once the Canada geese show up.

So, it's a little surprising to hear about a summer eagle.

A conversation between two eagles could maybe go like this; "well yes, we just love the winters here on Winnipesaukee, but as soon as those Canada geese start to show up in April.....arriving from down south ..... don't you know ..... we are so outa here ..... and we prefer to summer up in Labrador than to share the lake with all those geese!"

You understand that a Canada goose usually weighs more than an eagle which weighs from three to five pounds, but without the eagle weapons; talons and beak. While the eagle are more like flghter airplanes....the geese are like bomber planes.

I see eagles all the time in the summer. I saw them this summer up at Long Lake in Maine, and see them around the Merrimack River quite often.

[Puck]

9/7 on an island east of Bear...

[Flylady]

Looks like a 3-4 year old based on the color of its head. I have seen at least 5 on the lake here ranging for 1 yr old to adults.... they seem to be enjoying the fishing here!

[Winnisquamer]

Such an awesome bird to watch when you do get the chance to see them! Thanks for posting that picture..

[Puck]

Another photo of the same individual.

[dragonfly03246]

Has been flying over Lakeport for a couple of weeks. He buzzed my house this past Saturday. Beautiful bird and HUGE!

[jbolty]

I don't recall ever seeing or even hearing about eagles being seen growing up. Or moose for that matter. I guess warming or cooling or building or something has altered their ranging area.

I took a cruise to Alaska a few years ago and the first time we saw a bald eagle everyone was like."Shhh, quiet, look-look-look" By about the third day that were everywhere like crows. Kind of funny actually seeing a bunch five foot wide birds and the symbol of America mobbing a dumpster.

[noreast]

Only the elimination of DDT and other farm pesticides has changed. Long ago this was there home. Also they were hunted because they were suspects in taking live stock. Very rare to see a golden, but they do travel through. Most often immature balds confused for golden. I'd love to see a picture if anyone has one.

[donnamatrix]

I help NH Audubon to track some of the eagles on Winni - this is the report sent out by Audubon to the "watchers" and probably reported in the press, covering all of NH nesting eagles:

In summary, during 2015 we confirmed a record-high total of 45 TERRITORIAL PAIRS of Bald Eagles in New Hampshire (up from 41 pairs in 2014 and twice as many pairs as we found in 2010). We confirmed 30 PAIRS INCUBATING in 2015 (up from 27 in 2014 and twice as many as in 2010). There were 25 SUCCESSFUL NESTS in 2015 (up from 24 in 2014 and more than double what we found in 2010), and a total of 43 YOUNG FLEDGED (up from 41 fledglings in 2014 and more than double the number produced in 2010). All these statistics meet or exceed previous post-DDT era record-high marks for Bald Eagles the Granite State.

[Greene's Basin Girl]

An eagle tried to grab an adult loon in Green's Basin last Saturday. Fortunately The eagle failed to get the loon. Since then we have noticed that one adult loon will stay very far away from the other adult and the two chicks when they are feeding. We think when the loon stays by him/herself it is acting as a decoy in case an eagle tries to grab one of them.

[dpg]

Son watched one last month swoop down out of a tree near the Suissevale beach and bag himself a fish.

[Dad sold the C * C]

We have been watching a pair hanging around the middle of Winnisquam the past few weeks. One of them showed off for our company by catching a fish in front of the house. :)