Just heard from Tim Janzen who reminded me that Lars said the tail had no
white. I was just going by the photo, and if so, I guess that would
eliminate White-tailed Eagle which has white in the tail, even as a
juvenile. (Bald Eagles don't). This would depend upon the view of course,
but a spread-tail flight view would settle it. Below are 2 WT Eagles
perched in which the white is not very visible. Juvenile Golden Eagles
usually have significant white in the tails/wings so I guess it might have
to be an unusual Bald Eagle juvenile?
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/109761871?_gl=1*es4uod*_ga*MTMwMDUxMjIxOC4xNjQwMTUzMDI1*_ga_QR4NVXZ8BM*MTY0MDE2MzA1Ni4zLjEuMTY0MDE2MzA4NC4zMg..#_ga=2.153613501.421433067.1640153025-1300512218.1640153025
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/34961741?_gl=1*1l9q29r*_ga*MTMwMDUxMjIxOC4xNjQwMTUzMDI1*_ga_QR4NVXZ8BM*MTY0MDE2MzA1Ni4zLjEuMTY0MDE2NDQ2OC42MA..#_ga=2.51378220.421433067.1640153025-1300512218.1640153025
As to the 'eye ring', it's not clear whether the eye is all dark with an
eye-ring, or whether the white is the outer portions of the eye itself.
But here is a Bald Eagle that shows a similar 'eye-ring' The bill is all
dark and appears much larger than Lars' eagle.
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/396228831?_gl=1*w9d7z4*_ga*MTMwMDUxMjIxOC4xNjQwMTUzMDI1*_ga_QR4NVXZ8BM*MTY0MDE2MzA1Ni4zLjEuMTY0MDE2NDkyOC4yNg..#_ga=2.218094739.421433067.1640153025-1300512218.1640153025
On Wed, Dec 22, 2021 at 12:46 AM Robert O'Brien <baro@xxxxxxx> wrote:
A further reflection and good night.
I'm _guessing_ that the white feet/legs as well as possible the white
'lores' are due to wading around in putrified, spawned-out salmon carcasses
along this eagle's presumed long trip through perhaps the Aleutians and
then SE Alaska. Just a thought.
Bob Obrien Carver OR
On Tue, Dec 21, 2021 at 11:40 PM Robert O'Brien <baro@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Lars' Incredible Eagle.
Lars richly deserves this after his many, many years devoted to Oregon
Birding.
He observed what most (especially including me) would pass off as 'just
another' Bald Eagle, in its normal shoreline habitat, at a great distance.
At Hood River
Still, he went to great lengths, with a camera view though a telescope,
to photograph it.
He was successful.
So, the question, was, is this a Bald or a Golden Eagle. (Since it
didn't look like either)..
Now I have some experience with this eagle, long, long ago, in Japan. So
I recognized the possibilities pretty soon. It didn't look like BAEA or
GOEA
There were no responses so far to his photo, likely due to the CBC Season
in High Application.
I'm going out on a limb a little, myself, in proposing: White-tailed
Eagle. See below.
As for eBird, not accounting the long-ago residency on Attu, this would
be the first record for the lower 48. There is one for Kodiak IS, Alaska,
and one for eastern Canada.
Further documentation is, of course, essential. Any sort of flight shot
would greatly help as this eagle has an amazingly and distinctively short
tail.
Some key features (not necessarily definitive) in Lars' photo. Apparent
'white eye ring'; Large whitish area below the bill/eye, strangely mottled
breast, relatively small, but strongly hooked bill with darker tip. I don't
know what to make of the 'white' legs/feet, (perhaps staining?).
Hoping I'm correct and greatly in awe,
Bob OBrien Carver OR
PS In addition to the Macaulay images, I've taken the liberty of
attaching an adjusted version of Lars' very challenging telescopic photo.
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/377675901?_gl=1*16ir32x*_ga*MTMwMDUxMjIxOC4xNjQwMTUzMDI1*_ga_QR4NVXZ8BM*MTY0MDE1MzAzOC4xLjEuMTY0MDE1NTEyMS41OQ..#_ga=2.254203021.421433067.1640153025-1300512218.1640153025
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/378925181?_gl=1*wenbkn*_ga*MTMwMDUxMjIxOC4xNjQwMTUzMDI1*_ga_QR4NVXZ8BM*MTY0MDE1MzAzOC4xLjEuMTY0MDE1MzQ0OS40Mw..#_ga=2.248970242.421433067.1640153025-1300512218.1640153025
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/213195631?_gl=1*1fghl84*_ga*MTMwMDUxMjIxOC4xNjQwMTUzMDI1*_ga_QR4NVXZ8BM*MTY0MDE1MzAzOC4xLjEuMTY0MDE1NTkwMy42MA..#_ga=2.146731313.421433067.1640153025-1300512218.1640153025
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/147554701?_gl=1*1viu18k*_ga*MTMwMDUxMjIxOC4xNjQwMTUzMDI1*_ga_QR4NVXZ8BM*MTY0MDE1MzAzOC4xLjEuMTY0MDE1NjIwOC41#_ga=2.252525708.421433067.1640153025-1300512218.1640153025
