When I first spotted two small dark shapes in the the waters of Occoquan Bay, I wasn’t sure what I was seeing. As I zoomed in and saw that it was two birds, I assumed that they were cormorants or some similar bird. When the birds changed position and the sun reflected off their white heads, I was shocked to realize that it was two adult Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) perched on a floating log.
The photo is a little deceptive because it makes it look like the foreground is a beach. The tide was fairly low when I took this shot and the shallower water was covered with some kind of floating debris—it was definitely not solid ground.
Why were the eagles on the log? I thought that maybe they were feeding, but when I scanned the log, I could not see any evidence of a fish. It looks to me like this is a couple, with the larger female on the left, that is involved in some kind of marital dispute. She seems to be telling her mate something and he seems to be a bit cowed and defensive.
What do you the conversation is about between these two eagles?
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Very cool about seeing Bald Eagles together and you are right they really do look involved in conversation! Too bad that you couldn’t hear what the wife was saying! LOL!
Oh let’s go on Dear! It would be lovely to take a little cruise for a change. And who knows, we might find a meal along the way?
🙂 Love the conversation!!
Eagles mate all year long… I have seen this conversation between them. LOL
Great capture of the pair and thoughts about their communication, Mike!
What a find
Nice Mike! Two in One shot!