HK at sunset 12.11.13

I had to get an eagle "fix' before my quick trip to Florida. I drove by HK's nest late in the afternoon. Empty. I drove through the neighborhood adjacent to Honey Bee and did get a distant glimpse of him through the trees. I stopped by the pro shop and he was perched across the river in his favorite cypress tree being mobbed by crows.

He flew very low across S. Independence Blvd. towards Rosemont Forest Elementary School. Since school had been dismissed for the day, I drove over there. I followed the noisy crows and found him perched in a tree on the golf course eating a fish. I guess he picked that up on his way over!

As I had been told by staff that the course was closed for the day, I drove around and parked on a side street and walked on the cart path until I came across HK in the same tree. He seemed to be enjoying the warmth of the sunset.  I took his photo and left him there at 4:49pm.

Rain, rain....go away..........! December 10, 2013 observations

So much rain and depressing gray skies have kept me indoors. This afternoon, there was a glimmer of brightness, so I did venture out to Honey Bee.
I came down S. Independence Blvd.  from the Stumpy Lake area and an eagle  came into view perched on a tower off Bellspring Drive. I was able to determine that it was the banded female.

She did not stay long, and flew off in the general direction of Salem High School. I looked down S. Independence and viewed another eagle perched on a tower. I drove down there and was able to see HK's bands.

HK didn't stay long either and also took flight. These photos were all shot through the sunroof of my Honda Pilot. Thanks, Honda......for heated seats!

HK flew off very low and I was eventually able to find him in the eating tree, just perched. That's where I left him.

Observation time: 3:48pm - 4:40pm.

December 4, 2013.....lots of action and lots of pics!

I arrived just before 11am. An eagle was sitting beside the Osprey nest on S. Independence Blvd.

I parked close by and stayed in my SUV. After a few minutes, the eagle hopped into the nest, and immediately hopped out and moved to the other side of the tower, as if waiting for someone.

I was then pretty sure that  it was the banded female after reviewing a few pictures. At 11:35 she inexplicably flew down river towards Ware Neck Drive.

I began driving across the bridge and suddenly saw an eagle coming back from the same direction.

 I assumed it was the female returning, so I backed up and this time got out of my SUV just in time to catch the eagle landing in the Honey Bee clubhouse area.

I was still unsure of which eagle it was, when it flew down river again and landed in another tree. Suddenly a juvenile eagle showed up and took that perch and the older eagle flew across the water to a Cypress tree. The juvie soon followed, there was some interaction, the juvie flew towards the Osprey nest, changed its mind about landing there, and disappeared. After I caught my breath, I was able to review some photos and determined that the older eagle was HK.

I was now back at the Ware Neck area, when HK took off and....landed on the riverbank! He hopped down on a branch, into the water, and came up with a fish! And flew to the eating tree to eat his lunch.

After HK finished dining, he decided to clean up a bit. So, he flew back down towards the clubhouse area and went into the water.

He bathed for about 10 minutes shook himself a bit, gave me a long look, and flew off.

I was able to find him again after driving through the neighborhood for about 30 minutes. He was behind a house in a pine tree with wings spread and feathers ruffled.....drying out after his bath.

It was  wonderful to observe HK fairly close and I was able to take a few close ups. It was a grand end to an awesome day with the Bald Eagles at Honey Bee.
Observation period 10:48am - 3:45pm.

Post for December 2, 2013

A short observation time today. Thank goodness there are so many folks interested in documenting HK's life now! I don't feel like I have to be out there all day, everyday. I heard that HK was up and about early and got a fish midday. I heard there are many more fish eating birds on the North Landing River. This would indicate to me that fishing is good! There were also reports of people fishing!
I checked a few places around the area where I had observed eagles but saw nothing. But then, as I headed down S. Independence Blvd., I could plainly see an eagle perched in a tower at the entrance to Honey Bee Golf Course.

As I drove into the parking lot, I saw 3 more photographers there, snapping away. And why not? The eagle was in beautiful light!

 The other photographers said the eagle had been there about 45 minutes already. So, it was no surprise that it left shortly after my arrival. After the take off, we were able to determine by the bands that it was HK.  Such an amazing experience being with eagle lovers and their big guns!

After HK flew, I tried to locate him again. I drove to the school where he's been seen before and arrived just in time to see him take off and land in a tree back towards S. Independence Blvd. again.

Then, I headed home.

HK on the North Landing River. December 1, 2013.

It's hard to believe but it has been 2 whole years since I first saw HK behind the clubhouse at Honey Bee Golf Club. I am looking through my photo archives to find a then and now comparison.
I went out late this afternoon to take a short walk in the sunshine and hopefully encounter HK. There were plenty of birds out and since the trees have now lost most of their leaves, eagle spotting should be somewhat easier. Indeed,  I counted 9 Great Blue Herons perched in the trees on the North Landing River. They are among my favorite birds and I am always happy to see them.

As I turned to retrace my steps, I did catch a glimpse of an eagle. Well, hello there, HK!

He promptly settled into a tree across the water from me.

After 10 minutes he flew about 50 yards down the river and perched on a rather thin branch of another tree. He seemed to just enjoy the quiet and the setting sun. I know I did. The entire encounter lasted about 20 minutes.