10 replies to this topic

[GWD Photo]

It's probably a Bald, but there have been a few Goldens reported in the area recently, so I just want to make sure. Seen at the Middle Creek WMA in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PoorMatty]

It's a Golden!

[Seattle]

Remember when bald eagles were the birds to see!  Nice find..

[Liam]

I agree! You can see the white tail band and the pale nape relatively well in these photos.

Attached Files

•  Dimi028m.jpg   88K   1 downloads

[illin]

Congrats on the great bird!

There have been a ton of Goldens reported in PA. At the Tussey MT hawkwatch they have had more Goldens so far this season than Red-tails. 68 so far on the season, and 18 just yesterday!!!!

  http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/HAWK.html#1330736429

[mmosconi23]

I wonder if this is an upward trend? Up in Mexico,  NY, they have begun their raptor migration count. I am yet to make it up there, and it's unfortunate, because they have already seen 13 Goldens... A typical spiring migration sees ~35 - 50ish maybe? They have 13 and it's the 4th day of the count, still 3 months to go.

    Matt 

[GWD Photo]

Great!! Thanks everyone! I'm gonna check one more time on PA Birds Facebook, but I'm pumped. I saw this guy, and I was wondering if it could really be a golden. I asked a nearby birder what he thought and he just said "It's probably not a Golden" and didn't really take a good look at it. Stinks for him..

[birdbrain22]

Great bird... agree with Golden. We have twice missed a Golden reported at a nearby NWR... maybe tommorrow if it is still around. Would be great to get for the year now. 

[illin]

Not sure if you all have seen these photos, they are a couple years old, but they will give you another perspective of what a Golden thinks of as food. My link is to one of the craziest stories and best photo series out there. A Golden tried taking down a full grown healthy White-tail Deer and a birder happened to be there to capture the madness.

 http://www.ilbirds.com/index.php?topic=32809.0

[Cavan Wood]

That is a pretty amazing photo sequence.  It reminds me of the videos on Youtube of Golden Eagles being used to hunt foxes and even wolves.  In the case of the deer, it makes sense that it would be a first year bird trying this.  You often see the same thing with immature Red-tailed hawks trying to take innappropriate prey or huniting in innappropriate places.  That being said, it seems it only took one serious swipe at the deer.  This could be a way of testing prey to see if it's vulnerable.

[mtdavid]

Here's some more impressive Golden Eagle hunting.

Thanks for posting those photos Illin.