Bald Eagle Courtship at Jonas Green Park

What a day! I went to Sandy Point after the snow stopped, and there were hundreds of ducks, many flying close to shore. Many of the ducks on the water were asleep, heads tucked under their wings.

I noticed some ducks at Jonas Green as I passed, so I stopped to take a look, as this park has been iced in for several days. There were lots of ducks in the open water, and a pair of Bald Eagles put on a courtship display for me.

Black Backed Seagull 25

Black Backed Seagulls are common at Sandy Point.

Red Breasted Merganser 124

 

Red Breasted Merganser 120

Red Breasted Merganser 123

Red Breasted Merganser 121

Red Breasted Merganser 122

These Red Breasted Mergansers were feeding near shore.

 

 

 

Canvasback 117

Canvasback 115

Canvasback 114

Canvasback 116

Canvasbacks are usually seen in the creeks, but the ice has brought them out to the bay.

Lesser Scaup 187

Lesser Scaup 185

Lesser Scaup 186

You don’t often see a Lesser Scaup sitting on the ice.

Mallard 118

Only a few Mallards were around.

Bald Eagle 387

Bald Eagle 386

“Once attracted to a potential partner, the bald eagle may begin one of several elaborate courtship rituals called “cartwheeling.” In this magnificient display, the eagles soar to dizzying heights, lock talons, and begin a breathtakingly death-defying plunge to the earth. Just moments before striking the ground, the eagles disengage and once again soar to the heavens. If the timing is not perfect, certain death awaits this pair of speeding bullets. Eagles that are in combat with each other also may interlock their talons and fall in cartwheel fashion toward the ground. ” eagles.org

 

 

 

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