It is almost nesting season for Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Recently when I have seen eagles, they have mostly been in pairs. When I spotted the Bald Eagle in the first photo last Monday, it was calling out loudly to its mate, I believe, as it perched atop a raised platform at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge on which ospreys sometimes build a nest. An actual nesting site that has been used in recent years is located in a nearby sycamore tree.
A much larger nest is located in another part of the refuge, as shown in the second photo. Two eagles—presumably a mating pair—were hanging around close to that nest, though I have not yet seen them occupy it. The final photo is a close-up shot of the eagle that was perched right above the nest.
I will be checking the nesting sites periodically for signs of further activity. The large nest is set back from the trail a good ways, so you cannot approach it and the trail remains open. The smaller nest in the sycamore tree is adjacent to a trail that is now closed to keep the eagles from being disturbed. I am able to observe that nest from the barrier that blocks the trail and, if I am lucky, I will be able to monitor the nest and capture a few distant shots as I have done in the past.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I found this post perfectly enchanting, Mike. Each photo is crystal clear and highlighting our glorious national bird. And your familiarity with their nests and signs of nesting is hopeful and exciting. The fact that we have nesting bald eagles in VA these days, is a testament to the work of generations of past humans determined to bring this species back from near-extinction.
Thanks, Jet. We are really blessed in this area to have quite a few Bald Eagles. I remember well when I was growing up when bald eagles were considered to be an endangered species, due in part to DDT and other pesticides. Thanks to a big effort on the part of conservation groups as well as legislation, the eagle population had really rebounded. I am thrilled every time that I spot a bald eagle–it never gets old–and it is a real joy to be able to follow parts of their life cycle.
Love that first shot 👍👍. Nesting has started here but I have not gone out to the locations. For all their faults, we all still love to see them 😂😂
Thanks, Ted. I have not seen the eagles actually working on the nests, as I have seen them do in some of the past years. They seem to like to use the same nests from year to year, adding on and improving as necessary/desirable.
Around here they use the same nest each year. Berry College has a cam mounted over a nest, has been for years. Ellen is watching them on eggs right now 😃😃
I figure it will be a little while before we have eggs. I can usually tell when the eagle is sitting on the eggs in the smaller nest, but the walls of the big nest are so high, I can never tell if there is an eagle inside the nest or not.
We have a nest big like that. Can’t tell if anyone is there or not. 😂
“Think in terms of images and words. They can be mighty powerful when they are fitted together properly.” – Gordon Parks, American photographer. You do this so well in every post! As I looked at the enlarged last photo, read this post, and your thoughtful responses to the comments I was reminded again of this quote. I had thought to add it to my comment on your “Tree Hugger” post just before Christmas. I did not do so as I got sidetracked telling you about the Steller’s Sea Eagle. Thank-you, Mr. Mike!
Thanks so much for your exceptionally kind words, Ellen. I remember when I first started my blog and I thought that it would be mostly just a gallery of my images. My friend Cindy, who helped me get started, encouraged me to identify my subjects in my postings. It did not take long before I realized that I enjoyed expressing myself as much with my words as with my photos. As you have undoubtedly noticed, my approach varies–sometimes I will talk about my subject, or about my process as I was capturing the images and at other times I will use the photos as points of departure to talk about broader issues or more personal philosophical musings. My prose is often not polished or perfect, but it is generally a pretty accurate reflection of me as a person. The Stellar’s Sea Eagle story has really spread and I have read about in quite a few reports, including one by CNN.
Oooh, I like the middle pic!