ML644485270

Observation details

Probably one of the last things we expected to see today... Came up onto the ridge on the trail, and this guy was RIGHT THERE! It soared around in circles, gaining altitude and moving down the ridgeline toward the south. Sorry for the gross photos. The camera was set up to photo plants, bugs, small mammals, definitely not birds. Huge bird of prey, very dark. Big tail, almost wedge-shaped, with wedge of white clearly visible from underneath. One white blob on each wing just inside primaries or so. One good view of obvious golden nape on the first pass, but after that it never gave us a favorable view again. Not a 2X4 profile like bald eagle. Good eagle-shaped head, slightly bulgy wings (my impression was a juvenile?). See terrible photos. First reaction: "Wwwwhhhhhaaaa????" And then: "What is that doing here?"