FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] Golden Eagle in Berea

["Bryant, Rhonda" <rbryant@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Rhonda and I debated on where to hike Sunday; I had thought about going
to South Fork area to try and beat Roseanna at some new arrival. But
time and price of gas let us go no further than Berea. We had climbed to
the northeast side (eagle's nest) and were setting on an out-cropping,
the sun on our shoulder and the wind in our face. We were watching the
vultures catch the up draft a quarter mile to the northwest when a black
line appeared above them. I first thought a Black Vulture but before I
could replace glasses with binoculars I caught a glimpse of white. As
soon as I got the binoculars in place the bird ruddered left exposing a
bold white band at the base of the tail. Then the gold nape came into
view and the large beak was visible. The juvenile bird may have had some
light patches on the wings but I never saw anything as white as the tail
band. It had soon drifted south behind us. I have to say that I have
been left quite in awe by my first sighting of a Golden Eagle in
Kentucky. what a huge powerful flier.

Also noted were Pine Warblers, Phoebe, and Brown Thrashers singing; a
pair of Red-headed woodpecker, and a Turkey vulture that showed no
apparent affect from the loss of easily half the primaries in its left
wing. 
Scott
Lexington, Ky