[Tweeters] Steller's Sea-Eagle (near Chinook)

[Jeff Gilligan via Tweeters]

Hi

I see that a Golden Eagle was reported by puffin monitors at Cannon Beach in the past few days.  In some ways, the Stellers slightly resemble an immature Golden, so I wonder if they saw the Steller’s, and are not experienced birders.  I have only seen Golden Eagles twice on the Oregon coast, and one raiding seabirds on a rock seems unusual.    I am positive of the ID of the bird I saw. I have birded over 60 years.  I was informed that someone reported a first-year Steller’s on the northern Oregon coast last winter.  I do not know anything more about that report.

Jeff Gilligan




> On May 31, 2025, at 9:56 AM, Larry Schwitters <leschwitters at me.com> wrote:

> 

> Hello Jeff,

> 

> If you have the id correct this is a very, very rare bird especially for your location. eBird shows one being seen off and on over the years near Juneau, AK. But thats the closest to Washington State eBird shows. If you could come up with a photo the bird listing world will go crazy.

> 

> Larry Schwitters

> Issaquah

> 

>> On May 31, 2025, at 9:25 AM, Jeff Gilligan via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:

>> 

>> I saw a first-year Steller’s Sea-Eagle yesterday about two miles west of  Chinook as it flew over the road, showing me its wedge-shaped tail.  The massive eagle threw me off for a bit as it flew towards me.  I see Bald Eagles daily at my home on Willapa Bay.   Until it got closer, I could not determine what group of birds it was in.  The wings were very large, and it flew in a leisurely way with quite deep wing beats.  

>> 

>> Jeff Gilligan (503) 502-9374

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>