Birdlife East Gippsland had an outing to Burnt Bridge and Cherrytree east of Lakes Entrance yesterday for a morning of birdwatching. I was especially taken with Burnt Bridge.
We arrived at the carpark. Some members looked downstream to dead trees by the waterside and commented that they would be great spots for white-bellied sea-eagles to perch and survey for potential prey. Having only walked 50 metres downstream, we spotted such a beastie, missed on the initial quick perusal. With its patchy buff-white head and body, this will be a second year bird.
Answers as to what he/she is doing with the right foot on a postcard to ... Perhaps the leg is injured. A little further on we spotted a second sea-eagle, maybe a first year juvenile bird with all the brown feathers.
Magic. f8 and be there!
Looks like a very nice spot!
ReplyDeleteSeems odd the resting leg isn't drawn up close to its body.
It's always great to see some young birds - ensuring the species will be around for longer.
ReplyDeleteAgreed and agreed Mosura. The leg seems to be held rigidly which implies to me [retired veterinarian] that there is damage in the leg which is preventing it being drawn up to the body. Or he has a cramp!
ReplyDeleteAgreed HW. However, in this part of Gippsland sea-eagles are doing very well. The sheep farmers in general don't have complimentary things to say about them [and Wedgies too]. Certainly from my observations, the two big eagles are doing fine. We do have a bit of a increase in rabbit numbers over the last 2-3 years.