Bald eagles and snowy owls

It's been a raptor kind of week.

Last weekend, Rick and I went to Sheffield Mills for the annual Eagle Watch festivities. It was our third year to go. The only time I've seen the eagles fly down and go after the chicken carcasses left there for them was our very first outing, back in 2014, fighting for morsels among the seagulls and crows. Last year they mostly stayed perched in the trees and waited till most of the people left, then flew down to feed. Same thing this year. Someday I will have the patience to stay all day long, and shiver in the cold. Not this year.

However, I will say that Sunday's weather was the best we've ever experienced at an eagle watch. We got there right at 8 a.m. Eagles silhouetted against the sunrise is such a beautiful sight. Not only that, but the eagles were very vocal, trilling and calling out to one another. It would be neat to know what they are chatting about. Maybe something like: "Why are all those people lined up over there, watching us?"

The people shown here are standing where we're supposed to stand, in the viewing area behind the pylons. Unfortunately, whether out of ignorance or just some notion that the rules don't apply to them, a few people ventured out well past the pylons. Some even walked up to one of the trees where the eagles were perched, flushing them all out. It may have reached a point where the festival has become too popular, and a representative will need to be on hand all day long to herd people back where they belong.

Starting with the snowy owl irruption in 2014, I've known of snowy owls coming to Nova Scotia. That year, one perched on the rooftop of Shelburne Furniture, drawing a big crowd of gawkers (including me). Since then, Rick and I have seen snowy owls at Cape Forchu near Yarmouth, Daniel's Head, on Cape Sable Island, and Baccaro Point, the southernmost point on mainland Nova Scotia.

So far this year, I have seen a male snowy at Baccaro Point, as well as a female. Earlier this week someone posted photos of two females in flight, possibly in a territorial display of aggression toward one another. So when I drove over there yesterday afternoon, I hoped I'd see the two females. Instead, I saw this beautiful male. He was sitting along the shore near the lighthouse, keeping watch for prey, but also preening and scratching his head. Then he flew up to the top of this pole, which provides him with a safe lookout spot.

These snowy owls must be fairly habituated to vehicles, as this fellow didn't seem too stressed out by my car, and others, going by. But he did keep a close eye on us. Good thing. Snowy owls and other raptors are wild animals, so it's only right that they are wary and not too trusting of people.