drama on Weesuck Creek

I was sitting on our porch mid-morning, enjoying the good weather and wondering what exactly I was going to write in today's post when a noisy row of angry crows struck up in front of the house. It wasn't exactly the really furious sound of crows attacking a hawk but rather a chorus of hoots that were almost hesitant, yet strong enough to suggest that something serious had incurred their displeasure. I tried to sneak out the porch door, moving as quietly as possible in an effort to avoid flushing up the object of all this corvid ire. As usual the effort was in vain and I could see that a very large raptor was in the air. That's funny, thought I; the crows don't usually go after Osprey. Suddenly the 'Osprey' wheeled around in mid-air showing an all-white tail. There were two birds. Wait, the other one was a . . . no, it was an actual Osprey joining the crows to chase an old traditional enemy. Who or what was this enemy? It was a very big bird with a white tail and a white head.

Bald Eagle.

As this adult Bald Eagle hightailed it across the water with crows and Osprey on its tail, I ran back to the house to get Lorna and the spotting scope. The bird had settled in a low Pitch Pine on Pine Neck, directly across the creek from where we were perched. It was half-hidden in the tree and the crows were trying, quite unsuccessfully, to flush it out. As we watched through the scope, the Eagle moved a bit out in the open as to make room for -- wait for it -- a second Eagle in even more resplendent adult plumage coming in from the right and landing right next to the first in the low Pitch Pine. Two adult Bald Eagles sat sitting side by side for a spell!

After this somewhat extended session of togetherness, the first Eagle -- possibly a sub-adult and identifiable by its slightly streaky white head -- left its companion and flew to a higher and more exposed perch on a tree somewhat further upstream. I've seen a handful of Bald Eagles here, usually in the air, never more than one at a time, not always fully adult, and always in fall migration; this was our first spring sighting and had the look of a young pair.

I reached Eileen Schwinn, one of our few East Quogue birders, to tell her about the eagles but she was looking at Mississippi Kites up in the Sterling Forest! Fortunately Mike Higgiston, another of our limited supply of East Quogue birders, turned up to verify the sighting, making it official.

Eventually Eagle #2 flew up to join Eagle #1 on its higher and more exposed perch and the two of them again sat together for a bit. Neither of the eagles was much bothered by the crows but when the Osprey came by for another visit, they visibly reacted, stretching out their necks with their massive bills upturned and wide open; perhaps they were calling but, as the Osprey soared in close, the eagles seemed to be saying in unison: "Don't come too close!". Eventually Eagle #1 took off flying down the creek and then over Pine Neck with a crow in hot pursuit. It was followed shortly thereafter by Eagle #2 and as this second bird struggled to get altitude, the Osprey came after it in hot pursuit. Only after a serious tangle or two (at one point, the Eagle flipped over to show its claws) did the Eagle break away and both birds were lost to sight.

Who should turn up a little later in the afternoon but Eileen Schwinn on her way back from Sterling Forest. Well, of course, the eagles were long gone -- except that they weren't! Both Bald Eagles were back in view soaring majestically over Weesuck Creek! Wow!

Eric Salzman