This Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was staring down at me and appeared to be irritated when I spotted it on Monday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Was it truly sad, disappointed, or angry at my presence, or was I merely mirror-imaging the range of emotions that I have experienced this past week as I observed the chaos and confusion in my own country?
If you would like to get a closer look at the eagle’s expression, double-click on the image. What do you read in that expression?
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
That’s a funny look! Like it’s offended at your presence but a little curious at the same time 🙂 Re USA I have much admiration for Pelosi and AOC. The way they can carry on and even front up for interviews after all they’ve been through.
It’s a strange enough look that I though it would be interesting to see how others interpreted it. Thanks, Liz, for your continuing concern about what is taking place in the US right now. Covid was bad enough on its own, but when you overlay it with the ongoing threats of continued violence, the situation is pretty grim. I am cautiously optimistic and hope and pray that things will slowly improve.
I think he thought: “Dude you are so lucky that you are just a little too big for me.” 🙂
🙂 Your comment brought to mind an encounter several years ago when an eagle flew down from a tree in my direction with its talons extended. Yikes.(https://michaelqpowell.com/2016/02/07/im-not-your-prey/)
It’s a toss up between “what have you people done to my country?” And, “I wonder if you taste like fish…” in any case, I wouldn’t get any closer, Mike.
I sure hope that things settle down once power changes hands in your country. Take care.
I think his expression is really saying, ‘Harumph!’ But the again, I guess bald eagles always look rather austere. Always enjoy your eagles, so matter what mood they’re in, Mike.
He’s “above it all” looking down (literally & disgustedly) at an unfit (let us count the ways) human looking up proudly at a wall interfering with Nature’s norms. An eagle’s eye sees all clearly!
Nice Mike! Always fun to photograph Eagles! I enjoy seeing your Eagle images! I was hoping to see an Eagle on our trip to Edwin B. Forsythe NWR in Oceanville, NJ, last week, but did not see any even in the distance. Some years you see quite a few there, other years hardy any. That is why I like Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Cambridge, Maryland. In the Winter they usually have the largest concentration of Bald Eagles in the Northeast. But with COVID-19 we are staying close to home.
Eagles always look fierce to me, must be that brow!
The massive beak also makes it a little hard to smile. 🙂
He (or she?) looks down upon us sternly, like a strict teacher admonishing a misbehaving student. If he knew how environmental protections were done away with by the outgoing Trump administration, this would be the exact expression I would expect. We humans have turned this beautiful, magnificent home of ours into a smoking landfill. Shame on us.
It’s as if he/she can smell the stink of what’s going on in that bizarre arena.
🙂