"WHAT'S ON THE MENU?"

Bald Eagle (Male) - 11 Photos

NOTE: SOME INDIVIDUALS MAY FIND THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS DISTURBING

The Bald Eagle was first spotted standing on an ice shelf next to the river, with what I thought was a fish.

Moved in cautiously but the eagle quickly flew off with his catch. He did a very short trip down the river, turned back and landed on a branch of a tree near to where I was standing. With his trophy secured safely high in the tree, he began to dine on what appeared to be quite a large meal.

Because of the flat lighting and my concentration on taking photos, I didn't realize until I got home & downloaded the photos, that the "catch of the day" was not a fish but a black Eastern Gray Squirrel and quite a large one, at that.

Then when I reviewed the flight photos, the shape of a squirrel became apparent (Photo #1). The distinct outline of the head and rodent teeth can be seen between the eagle's feet & what I thought was a fin is, in fact, the squirrel's tail. 

Not certain whether the squirrel had already met his/her demise and the eagle had scavenged the meal or whether this was a case of an Eastern Gray Squirrel getting a little too cheeky. I had noticed on previous occasions of squirrels in these woods, sitting on branches just below where the eagle was perching, giving "lip". One might have been a little too overconfident. 

But whatever the reason, this large squirrel must have offered a change in the fish diet for this fortunate Bald Eagle. It took some time to devour the entire meal (Photo #2 through Photo #11). In the end, the eagle perched at the end of the branch, just chilling out, presumably happy & content.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9

PHOTO #10

PHOTO #11