[Tweeters] Drama on the Dock

[Jon Houghton via Tweeters]

Hi Tweets - Last week we witnessed an interesting look at how nature and Bald Eagles work. We were on the end of the Edmonds fishing pier watching an adult eagle make repeated low passes at a specific point in the water, extending its legs and talons into the water at the nadir of each pass.  On about the fourth pass, we noticed a quick appearance at the surface by Red-necked Grebe which had been the target all along, unseen by us, but obviously seen by the eagle each time it approached the surface for a breath. On that last pass, the eagle nailed it and held it underwater, with the eagle's body about half underwater itself.  The eagle then did a breast stroke, using its wings in a rotating motion, to drag its still unseen prey to the breakwater where he hauled it out and devoured it.  I've seen eagles do this before when they capture a salmon too large to fly with.  Happy Birding!
 
Jon Houghton, Edmonds
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