When several hours of rain finally lapsed Sunday afternoon, my wife suggested I head out with my camera. I had not expected to have an opportunity to do any birding, so I jumped at the chance — promising to be back soon to help get things in order for dinner guests.
Because of all the rain from the overnight storm, I headed to the Dyson Tract along the Delaware and Raritan Canal. I figured it was a good bet for birds at mid-afternoon and a good match for the hour or so I could afford.
On the canal towpath, I heard a pileated woodpecker calling in the distance and hoped to catch sight of it. As I walked up the gravel path that’s perpendicular to the towpath, I heard the bird call loudly from close by. I couldn’t spot it, but then I noticed a big blob high in a tree at the back edge of the woods.
It was a mature bald eagle, and I was able to shoot through the trees along the trail from a couple of spots. Wanting to get closer for a better shot, I quick-walked up the trail until it stops in a clearing near a housing development.
The bird was in plain few, still a fair distance from me. As I started to reach for my camera, the eagle took off. I took a series of shots. While the first several were blurry, my Canon locked onto the bird as it flew away. I got a few decent frames, including the photo topping this post.
I was eager to get home and see the eagle photos, but the pileated woodpecker again cried out just off the trail. I had to find it. I looked and looked and looked, and after a couple more nearby calls I spotted it just as it flew off the top of a tree. I didn’t bother with the camera, content to watch the big bird streak away to the southwest.
I had my eagle shots. I’m hoping the pileated will give me a raincheck. 🦅
The Jersey Birder 