It’s that time of the year when the eagles are taking turns sitting on the newly-laid eggs in their nest. This lucky pair has a perfect view overlooking life along the Mississippi River.
On flooded land near the levee we also spotted a Pied-billed Grebe, some American Coots, and a Great Blue Heron.
“I sat there and forgot and forgot, until what remained was the river that went by and I who watched …” ~Norman Mcclean
walking on a country road 
How wonderful is this is!
They’re beautiful, majestic birds. 🙂
It’s so much fun to watch these guys return to Minnesota. Thanks for some amazing shots again.
Thank you Kathy. We often see eagles when we visit our daughter in Minnesota. She doesn’t live too far from the Mississippi River.
Eagles are still on my “birdie bucket list” so in the meantime I’ll enjoy looking at all of yours. How lucky you are to see them on a regular basis and can count on seeing them in Spring like this.
It is always a thrill to see one. They’re pretty easy to spot in the winter around the lake and river, especially since the trees are bare. They follow the snow geese here since they are an important source of food. In warmer weather, there are fewer around and the leaves on the trees hide those that stay, which makes them hard to spot.
Owls and eagles elude me – hopefully down the road when I’m retired, I’ll have more time to go to the bigger parks where I see people photographing them. Now it’s just there on weekends and always at the mercy of the weather. Something to look forward to for sure.
Yes, it is. We’d love to go see the Sandhill Cranes when we retire. 🙂
Rebecca – a fellow blogger, (who’s taken a blog pause for about two years now), lives near Lincoln, Nebraska. Every year in mid-April, he took a little vacation to Kearney, Nebraska to visit the Sandhill Cranes. He did a few posts on it and another fellow blogger expressed an interest in going so I asked Keith for some info for her … she intended to go this year, but due to COVID will hold off for now. Tuck this away on Keither’s suggestions away if you and your husband get to Nebraska in search of Sandhill Cranes:
Over 80% of the world’s population of sandhill cranes converge on Nebraska’s Platte River valley to Kearney. They say, from Valentine’s Day to tax day is when you can be assured to see the cranes, with mid-March as the peak time. From Grand Island to Kearney, but I’ve only seen them near G.I. The Crane Trust Center is just off I-80, about 10 miles east of G.I. There’s an exit ramp that leads south to Alma. On that same road, you go about 5 miles to the 2nd bridge that crosses the Platte. There’s an off-road parking lot on the northwest side of the river, and that’s a good spot to see the cranes at sunrise and sunset. During the day, you can see them in the fields. There’s a River Road that runs parallel to the river on the south side. Another bridge can be found about 10 miles east, where you can get back on I-80. Of course, weekdays hold the fewest crowds.
Thanks, Linda! I appreciate the information. We get a small population of Sandhill Cranes through West Tennessee in the winter months, but nothing like they get in Nebraska. It’s got to be an amazing sight.
You’re welcome Rebecca. We have some in the northern suburbs, but not by me. A former co-worker has posted photos on Facebook of Sandhill Cranes stopping at her bird feeders and eating seeds right from the feeders. She does not live in a rural area either. Yes, those pictures he showed us of them taking flight were amazing.
You have main birds out and about right now Rebecca! Great post!
I just realized that your eagles environment is slightly different then ours Rebecca. Your eagles nest in deciduous trees and ours in conifers. So we can see our eagles year round but you cannot spot yours in the summer time. Interesting……….. and yours migrate I assume?
The deciduous tree where these eagles are nesting is along the river. Sometimes you also see nests among the Cypress trees around the lake. I’ve read that in January and February, there can be as many as 200 Bald Eagles around the lake and river. A large number come and go with their food sources (geese, ducks, etc.) but some nest here and raise their young here.
Your eagles are migratory? Ours are not. We too have a spot on the west coast with many eagles.
https://www.wildernesscommittee.org/events/brackendale-winter-eagle-count#:~:text=Brackendale%20is%20%22The%20World%20Eagle,Eagles%20was%20recorded%20in%201994.
We certainly can’t compete with that number, nor with the beauty of Vancouver. 🙂
I have never been there for the count but have driven past the location. I prefer to get shots of my eagles friends who know me and allow me to get close! I’d trade 2000 eagles I do not know for Romeo or the Daredevil!