Observations on November 30, 2013

I was finally able to get out to Honey Bee today after a very busy Thanksgiving holiday. As I headed up S. Independence Blvd., HK was clearly visible in the Osprey nest.

Several cars were parked off road, so I knew I'd have company watching him. I found out from the other photographers that HK and his banded girlfriend had been very active all day. They had been fishing, flying, gathering nesting material, and making trips to HK's nest. But now, near the end of the day, it was just HK. That was just fine with me!

  

He sat in the Osprey nest for a time. Another mature eagle was visible in another tower, probably 1/2 mile away. So, eventually HK left and flew down the road to a cell tower, perhaps to get a better look.

And that's where I left him at 4:08pm.

HK Observations 11.26.13

Observation time: 10:02am - 1:13pm
HK was tree hopping at first, then he flew to the Osprey Nest, where I was parked.

He landed in the Osprey nest and was mobbed by a bunch of crows.

HK hopped to the side of the tower and remained there for a good while; looking around, preening, and scratching.

He took off and I lost track for a while. I drove around to a few places I'd seen him before and decided to call it a day. But, lo and behold, I spotted him again in the tower at the entrance to Honey Bee Golf Club. I was able to park practically underneath him. And....left him there under the watchful eye of my friend,  Jim Yanello.

HK Observations from November 23, 2013

I got out to Honey Bee Golf Club very late (for me). I arrived about 4pm with what sun there was disappearing very fast. I quickly found an eagle sitting in a cypress tree across the North Landing River from the clubhouse. I couldn't really be sure what eagle it was, but HK does have a history of perching there. I walked around the clubhouse area, and spoke to a very nice employee who gave me permission to cross the bridge to get closer. I said, thanks but no thanks. However, I did ask if I could walk elsewhere on the course at that time and he gave me permission to do so.

Eagle on Cypress Tree

Just then the eagle flew in our direction, but I wasn't quite ready to shoot. Darn! But, I thought it landed close by, so I took a walk.  I was amazed how easy it was to spot! It had landed in a group of pine trees. But,  it was sitting pretty much in the open but partially obscured by some pine needles.
I snapped a picture for documentation.

Eagle partially obscured in Pine Tree on golf course.

 

 

 

 

I slowly continued walking, took about 6 more shots, and started retracing my steps so as not to make it change its behavior. 

Eagle perched in Pine Tree

But, it flew anyway. And landed in the Osprey nest on S. Independence. However, I got enough of it in flight to determine it was HK.
By the time I returned back to my car, HK had left the Osprey nest, hopefully to spend some quality evening time with a lady friend.
Thank you, HK for the photo op. And thank you, Honey Bee Golf Club, for letting me walk part of the course.

HK in the sunshine and warm temperatures, November 22, 2013

HK spent a lazy two hours in the warm sunshine I was at Honey Bee today. He spent over an hour in the Osprey Nest. I spotted him in the Osprey nest as I was driving down S. Independence Blvd. I pulled up reasonably close so as not to spook him, again using my SUV as a blind. After an hour or so, two City of Virginia Beach Police cars pulled up behind me and an officer walked up. Of course, HK took off! The officer asked if that was an Eagle or an Osprey. He was very inquisitive and very nice. And.... he realized that he made HK fly and apologized! I explained that HK was a banded eagle, where he was from, etc. Not sure why two police cars had to check me out though!
Later, HK perched prettily in a tree viewable from Ware Neck and I spent some quality time with some wonderful nature lovers I have had the good fortune to meet in the last few months.

HK in Osprey Nest

 

 

HK in Tree

The Banded Female Is Flirtatious

An early arrival this morning found the banded female perched at Honey Bee clubhouse.

 She soon flew to the tower at the golf club entrance. REALLY wanted to read her band!

 Eventually, she flew several towers down, in an adjacent neighborhood. She was joined by an eagle perched in a tower nearby, who turned out NOT to be HK. The other eagle (I assume a male) did interact with a third eagle in the clubhouse area (perhaps HK).

 

They both sat in the tower for about 35 minutes, when he left.

She sat for a while.

 Then she took off.

HK Encounter on November 18, 2013

I got to Honey Bee earlier today. Just before 8am there was a heavy downpour of rain, that lasted about 10 minutes. The rain stopped quickly but the skies remained gray with some blue showing. 

I did find HK quickly though. He was sitting in a tree, drying his wings. 

 

He moved from one tree to the next, I guess trying to find a sunny perch.

 A juvenile Eagle flew by.

 Finally, HK flew to the Osprey nest, with a spectacular landing. This picture was taken using my SUV as a blind.

 He sat there for a bit.

 

Then, typical HK reaction to several people close by; he left. And.....so did I.

 

But, I came across two eagles in flight over a nearby neighborhood.  The older eagle (I assumed this was still HK) had something in its talons and the younger eagle (possibly the juvenile from earlier) was chasing it. Pretty cool stuff!

HK Encounter on Saturday, November 16, 2013

One of the benefits of following the Honey Beeagles for 2 years is I have met a lot of great people along the way. Today, I was on my way there when I received the following text message from someone I had met months ago at a condo community in the area: "Eagle perched on cell tower next to golf course."
And, sure enough, as I made the turn onto S. Independence Blvd., I could see an eagle perched way up high. I couldn't believe my good fortune! I parked under the tower and got to work.
I recognized HK right away. No way was I going to leave the car to get a closer shot. HK is very skittish of anyone pointing a camera at him. So, I just sat and waited. And waited. And waited.
I watched and waited for an hour. HK preened. HK scratched. HK pooped. HK looked around. HK looked around a lot. People drove by. People walked by. People brought trash to the dumpster. People walked their dogs. A kid kicked a football. Three people stopped and talked to me. Still, HK remained perch on the cell tower. Then, for no discernible reason, HK took off.

HK surveys his territory

HK preening

HK looks all the way around

HK flexes his wings

HK checking me out

HK watching kid kick football

HK looking handsome

HK on the Wing

This week HK did a lot of flying while I was around.  These  pictures were taken on 3 different days. Total hours spent waiting/watching HK this week: 8.
I was also very excited see two fellow Eagle Peeps, Marilyn and Nadine, who were in Virginia for the WCV Gala this weekend. HK did make an appearance for them and gave us all an outstanding flyby! Thank you, HK!

HK behind Rosemont Forest Elementary School

11.11.13

HK with stick 11.12.13

Flying to nest 11.12.13

Flying over S. Independence with fish 11.12.13

In flight over S. Independence 11.14.13

In flight over S. Independence 11.14.13

HK and unbanded female eagle on 10.17.13

This was just one of the most beautiful and interesting bird encounters I have ever witnessed.  It was around 5:30pm in the early evening. Lots of photos. They tell the story.

HK on tower

HK vocalizing to incoming eagle

Unbanded female landing on Osprey nest

HK (right) and unbanded female

Close up-unbanded female

Unbanded female hops to Osprey nest

Hello, sweetie!

What pretty bling you are wearing!!

Who are you?

HK and banded Female 10.2.13

Observed October 2, 2013. The two were in the Osprey nest. They seemed very comfortable with each other. After the Osprey nest encounter they flew to HK's nest. The female was obstructed in my nest photo.

HK (in nest) and banded female

HK (right) and banded female

Banded female

HK

 

 

 

HK in the nest