While in Belle Haven, Northampton Co. (actually just "this" side of Accomack)
around noon I had good lengthy views
of a Golden Eagle. Both species of Vultures where up andthe eagle was first
spotted
loosely associated with a scattering of wheeling vultures. Eventually it
peeled off, circling slowly
lazily working its way west. Several times it soared within 30 ft. of the
ground.
Approaching me, it finally passed overhead at about a 45 degree angle at about
50 ft.
up. The whole study was about 15 minutes. The most arresting thing from the
first
moment was an extensive golden nape and neck.It was probably a 2nd cycle but
could
have been a 3rd; a 2nd cycle because of a somewhat ragged trailing edge of
inner wing. The first thing I noticed was a golden nape and sides of neck,
as the bird was very dark, this really stood out. Both upper and undersides
were well seen during
the time with the underwings nearly solid dark, almost blackish on the
outerwing.
Although the wings were long and broad, the completely lacked the plank-like
wings of Bald (secondaries
pinched in somewhat at the body). And typically the head and bill relative to
size were
small, the projection forward noticeably less the rearward.
While Golden Eagles are present during winter on the Delmarva perhaps annually
in very small numbers, they are rarely seen (even during the expected late fall
migration,
although more records develop at that time). Rottenborn and Brinkley (2007)
note up to three records on slightly less than half of the CBC's 1984 --
2004 (however, and I am assuming, this includes most of the Chesapeake basin
and
most of its tributaries ie Potomac River, York River. There are plenty of
nooks and cranies
on both shores of the bay.
David Abbott
gadflypetrel@xxxxxxxxx<
