Even with the arrival of spring I have to admit that the last several trips to the Fish Pond have seemed rather ho-hum. It’s actually been difficult to even find the motivation to go.

Arriving a little late this morning the pond seemed empty. I got set up and scanned the edges of the pond several times but I saw nothing. There were two Wood Duck drakes I didn’t see until something startled them and they flew across the far end of the water. They landed and swam under a large pine where they were again hidden from view. Catching only this brief glimpse of them it looked like it would be another slow day at the Fish Pond.

It had been almost an hour since I had last seen the Wood Ducks when I heard a noisy Seagull approaching the pond. It flew back and forth over the trees above and behind my blind where I could not see it. I did see it shadow and the shadow of something larger that it appeared to be chasing and darting after. Since several ravens had started to call I thought it was probably one of them. I was very surprised when the gull and its target finally appeared over the pond. It was a Bald Eagle.

This is the first time I have ever seen a gull chasing an eagle. Normally they make themselves very scarce when any of the large raptors are around but amidst the encouraging calls of the ravens it was doing a great job of harassing the larger bird.

The eagle finally decided to land in what seems to be becoming one of her favorite perches. While I can’t get a good view of it from my photo blind the ravens could and they spent the better part of twenty minutes pestering her. Deciding that she was not going to let them press her out of her spot over the stream they finally gave up and quieted down.

All of the activity must have peaked the Wood Ducks interest. They had followed shore to the mouth of the stream where they seemed totally unaware of the eagle’s presence. When one of them did spot her a minute or so later they immediately bolted quickly flying back to the safety of the pine tree where they had been before.

The eagle sat watching the stream for ten or fifteen minutes before lifting off and flying along the tree tops away from the pond. While I was glad to have seen her I was disappointed that I did not get an opportunity to get a decent photo of her.

Things quickly went back to being very quiet and stayed that way for almost an hour. I had resolved myself to being happy with a couple of good shots of the Wood Ducks and what has become a rare visit from my friend the eagle when a shadow on the water once again caught my attention. Looking up I just managed a glimpse of the eagle. Wings and white tail feathers spread wide she glided in below the tree tops this time. Her quick trip to a lower perch over the stream went unnoticed by the ravens or seagulls.

It’s a good thing our neighborhood Bald Eagles prefer fish to ducks otherwise the pair of Mallards that arrived less than a minute after she did could have been her lunch. Landing practically in the mouth of the inlet stream they swam almost right under her. Other than a look or two she all but ignored them though. I don’t think they even realized she was there at first. Even after I saw the drake tilt his head and look up at her they didn’t seem to worried about her presence.

The arrival of the Mallards brought the Wood Ducks out of hiding again and for about thirty minutes everything seemed to be peaceful. The ducks fed and moved about the pond while the eagle sat quietly staring intently down at the stream.

That all came to a very abrupt end though when a Great Blue Heron showed up.

While the eagle and ducks seemed willing to share the pond with each other the eagle was not so willing to tolerate the heron. She quickly turned on her perch and dived down through the trees making a beeline for the large blue gray bird. The heron was not about to argue and quickly vacated its spot and sought cover among the thicker branches of a dead pine. The eagle did an abrupt 180 and flew to the bank along the stream’s mouth. It then became obvious why the eagle didn’t like the presence of a bird that could be looking to lunch on the same things as her.

She hopped onto a dead branch just off the shore and grabbed a recently deceased rainbow trout that was lying in the water next to it. She adjusted her grip on it and with great swooshing beats of her wings she slowly lifted herself and her meal into the air.

Heading out low across the water she built speed and angled up toward the tree in which the heron had sought refuge once again sending it flying and hissing. Perching on a good-sized branch about half way up the tree she settled in to enjoy a quick meal before leaving. Hopefully to share what remained of it with young ones.

Needless to say I now remember why it is that I go to the pond. While its usually quiet, relaxing and even sometimes boring there are times that it is wonderfully exciting to be able to witness these small moments in the lives of some fantastic animals. To be able to sit within fifty feet of a Bald Eagle and watch it as it takes flight with a fish in its talons is something I can only hope I can adequately share with anyone who reads this.

Even if you don’t have a place like the Fish Pond visit there are great opportunities to enjoy the world around you. Local lakes, rivers and woodlands all are loaded with wildlife if you can find a spot to sit quietly and watch for an hour or so. All you have to do is take the time to get outside!

Have a great one and please feel free to leave a comment if you would like!

Kevin