ML164723201

Age and sex

Adult, Unknown sex - X

Media notes

Note bird in upper right corner. Flat wing profile. No dihedral.

Observation details

One adult interacting with younger bird probably a 3rd year bird. These birds were actually in Mexico above the far bank. Shepler comments: Highly cropped image showing the flat wing profile (see images) . Both birds were much bigger than the Black and Turkey Vultures soaring in the region. Initially, the first (adult) bird was seen hovering by both observers. The bird moved below the tree line across the river before a positive id could be made. Even at great distance the bird seemed very large and I was watching it trying to determine if it might be a large buteo such as Swainson's Hawk, but could see no white on the body or wings. It was overall dark. The bird then reappeared above the tree line. Then a second bird of the same size approach the original bird and as they interacted both observers realized that the bird had a white head and tai,l and dark body and wings. We both said, "Bald Eagle". We set about trying to id the second bird and I could clearly see that it had a white tail. The bird was generally dark bodied and had some white in the belly region. The head was white but appeared to have some dark on it. Excellent light. 10X binocs. Seen to the southwest of Salineño.

Technical information

Model

SZ-16,DZ-105

ISO

100

Focal length

108 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/6.9

Shutter speed

1/500 sec

Dimensions

4608 pixels x 3456 pixels

Original file size

3.61 MB