As I was observing a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) last Thursday (8 December) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, it suddenly swooped down to the water and snagged what I assumed was a fish. When I looked at my photos, however, the prey looked like it might be a duck or some kind of grebe. Yikes!
I have read that eagles will sometimes grab a waterfowl for meal, but I thought that was only as a last resort, for example, when the waters at a location are mostly iced over during the winter. At this time of the year, the waters are completely ice-free, so I am not sure what prompted the eagle to hunt for another bird rather than a fish. Perhaps the eagle was feeling lazy or was really hungry and did not want to go to the trouble of tracking and catching a fish.
Some birders on Facebook have suggested that the prey might be a small grebe, possibly a Horned Grebe, or perhaps a small duck, like a female Hooded Merganser.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
That is an amazing photo! I can appreciate the amount of time you spend out there to “happen upon” such a moment.
Wow ! Not your every day shot, very nice.
Great photograph, Mike!
Around here, the eagles are definitely opportunistic and will take just about anything. I was startled one morning as I was watching a White Ibis feeding and an eagle snatched it without missing a wingbeat.
Wow. That must have been quite a sight to see, Wally. I really do wonder if there are certain conditions that cause an eagle to choose to hunt for a bird rather than a fish.
Wonderful in-flight photo, Mike. He looks serious.
Eagles always look so serious–it’s probably hard to smile with that rigid beak. 🙂
No, no, no! That is a legendary gryphon tailed eagle from the twilight zone !
I love the idea of a gryphon-tailed eagle. When I was young, I was intrigued by creatures like sphinxes and centaurs. 🙂
Wow! Definitely unusual but not unheard of. I wonder if the eagle picked up on some sort of vulnerability in the bird. Very interesting.
I have no idea how the eagle chose its victim. I suspect it could overpower any of the floating birds. One of my other subscribers noted that he had seen a bald eagle snatch an ibis.
Very cool, interesting to have seen the catch and then get this surprise!
We have seen an Eagle take a small water bird (Gallinule or duck–it was far away), actually two Eagles worked together –the first one caused the prey bird to dive and the second Eagle timed his swoop for when the little bird popped up. In general, I’m not sure Eagles have a food preference other than for whatever is easier.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Ellen. I think an eagle’s preference is to steal a fish that another bird has caught. 🙂
You are welcome, nature sure provides entertainment and surprises! Oh yes, theft is a popular Eagle feeding method!
I have watched an Eagle nest cam at Berry College in Georgia the last few years and have been amazed at how many squirrels get brought to the nest for the brooding parent and then the young. I’ve wondered if the Eagle caught them or if they picked them up as road kill.
I am fascinated, Ellen, by your info about the squirrels. I never realized that an eagle’s diet was so varied–I figured they ate fish all of the time.