Last winter I stopped at Magurrewock Marsh to take photos of an eagle bathing in a break in the ice. I don’t know if that eagle was the male or female of the breeding pair that nest on Route 1 in Baring. I’ve watched American bald eagles all my life and still can’t tell the difference in sexes. I am sure though that they are a male/female pair. They have their first eaglet together. This is the male that’s been at this nest for a number of years, but the female is younger. This is her first successful attempt at raising an offspring in this nest.
The young eaglet wasn’t cooperative. Other than lifting its head briefly and stretching a wing twice, it didn’t move. I’d hoped to get great photos of it standing on the edge of the nest, strengthening its wings as it prepares to fly. No such luck this time.
Neither parent was nearby when I stopped at the observation platform early Monday afternoon. One adult was eating a fish on a rock in the water, the other not in sight. The nest was empty for a years. It’s good to see the pair has been successful, and a joy to watch the eaglet from the time I could barely see the top of its head until now, nearly ready to fly.