bald eagle at schaeffer farms?

[jaesun]

Earlier today, I had finished the orange trail at marker 6 and then made a right onto the white trail. over the stream and up the hill, I decided to rest for a bit. When another person behind me passed, I noticed a very large bird carrying a squirrel fly off from the side of the trail into woods on the right. I saw the bird from the back end and could only see the white tail feathers with brown body and wings. I got off my bike to see if I could look into the forest. I heard some shreiks, and then saw it fly off for good. Again, all I could see was the white tail feathers and brown body and wings. Oh, and it was still carrying that squirrel by the talons.

Was this definitely a bald eagle? I know they're in the area, but didn't think they'd be far from the potomac river. I didn't see anything more than the backside, but I can't imagine that it could have been any other bird.

[hophead]

It probably was a bald eagle. I saw one at Black Hills last summer and few over the years while fishing on the Potomac.

The only other indigenous predatory bird that I can think of that could carry a squirrel off is a falcon which would be hard to mistake for an eagle.

[trailsnstreams]

There are also a lot of hawks in the area, although I doubt they'd be mistaken for a bald eagle. I've seen a few bald eagles over the years. Do turkey vultures ever go after live prey? They're massive, and there are a lot in the area. But once again, I don't see mistaking one for an eagle.

[hophead]

Vultures & buzzards both have red heads as opposed to the bald eagles white, and I believe both are both strictly scavengers. I wouldn't swear to it, but I've never seen either catch anything live.

[urbaindk]

Vultures & buzzards both have red heads as opposed to the bald eagles white, and I believe both are both strictly scavengers. I wouldn't swear to it, but I've never seen either catch anything live.


Actually eagles, despite their noble appearance, are pretty much scavengers as well and they eat fish that has either washed up on shore, stolen from other eagles / ospreys, or as a last resort, caught themselves. I doubt there was one in the woods eating squirrels. Most likely you would have seen a redtail hawk or other large hawk.

The fact that you saw white tail feathers is puzzling though.

[philman]

I saw one cutting circles over the hillside pastures a couple of months ago. Definetly a white head and white tail.