Free Range Photography

When I arrived at the Benbow Bald Eagle nest watching spot Wednesday morning I was prepared to see nothing of the young eagle or its parents, knowing that the bird was likely flying now based on its “branching” activity seen last week, and could be anywhere.

The valley was quiet on an overcast morning except for a few Acorn Woodpeckers and distant Mourning Doves. The eagle nest was empty. In past years after a successful fledge the visibility of the young fledged bird has varied a lot.

Soon I heard the distant but loud cry of the juvenile eagle from the vicinity of the nest, but not from the nest per se. I studied the wall of green nearly a quarter of a mile away across the river valley, but could not find the bird.

Meanwhile, the papa warbler hung around, working the toyon bush for bugs for his nestlings.

Then all of a sudden, the juvenile appeared in the nest bowl while I was looking in a different direction. It was too dark for still photos, so I started the video rolling and before long the young eagle treated me to that singularly breathtaking sight of true flight. After a few weeks of hopping and flapping and hovering, and finally last week’s feat of branching, this was the real thing.

I am guessing the youngster has been flying for a few days as its hop out of the nest was not awkward and its glide through the forest smooth and graceful. It landed in a tree I couldn’t see and stayed there for the rest of the time I remained in the area. I never saw either of the adults, but judging by the amount of crying from the juvenile, food deliveries are still expected in the vicinity of the nest.

I’ll make the trek up another time or two, knowing that it’ll be hit or miss as to whether or not I get another glimpse of this extraordinary young creature whose emergence into the world it has been my great privilege to observe.