Raptors at Blackwater NWR
To see Birds of Prey, or raptors, is exciting to many. They are beautiful, powerful birds. And they are also fierce birds with keen eyesight and sharp talons that hunt and kill other animals for food, including small birds, fish, mammals, lizards, and insects.
I was fortunate to capture three species of raptors during my last two visits at Blackwater NWR.
Northern Harrier
Sometimes we’re not so lucky with their perch of choice.
Red-tailed Hawk
He flew to another pole. Of course, I followed.
Red-tailed Hawk
Bald Eagles
Bald Eagle
It lovelier to see them in their natural habitat setting.
Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
Blackwater NWR has the largest concentration of breeding Bald Eagles on the East Coast, north of Florida. During the winter, the population soars with transients.
It’s starting that time of year where you will see Eagles at the refuge on any given day.
Bald Eagles
This Bald Eagle pair was popular with everyone, they were much closer to the wildlife drive, perched for a couple hours.
Bald Eagles Chit-Chatting
Bald Eagles on the same perch in their habitat
Same pair of Bald Eagles at sunset
Photos by Donna 
Bald eagles are so beautiful! Your shots of them up on trees are quite a sight. Thanks Donna. 🙂
They truly are! Thank you, HJ! 🙂
Love them all!
Thank you, Cindy!
Wonderful series. The Harriers are so hard to catch, nice work.
Thank you Ted. That was the first Harrier I’ve seen in along time at this refuge, I was glad I got a couple shots before he was gone.
Great pictures Donna! I understand the Tundra swans have returned, so no doubt you will be back there checking them out. I can appreciate your comment about where they land not being as picturesque as a natural setting. When the great blue herons land on our floating dock with all the dock stuff in the way, what could be great poses to photograph are ‘cluttered’ with all the dock stuff. I think they do this intentionally to frustrate me! Thanks for sharing these photos, as always!
Thank you Susan! I’ve heard about the TSwans too, hopefully they’ll settle in the areas for the winter. I’ve had the best luck seeing them at Eastern Neck NWR. And you know they do do that intentionally, hoping we’ll leave them alone or don’t see them at all! LOL
Such beautiful and majestic birds. Love this series too 🙂
Thank you, Takami! 😊
Always a delight to see raptors. Love the sunset pic Donna!
Thank you Ashley! I think they look happy and content in that sunset shot. 😊
These photos of raptors at Blackwater are stunning! Thank you for sharing them with us.
Thank you, Hien, and you are welcome!
We had a lucky yard visit last day of 2017 by a pair of eagles. Otherwise, we almost never see them. But they are making a comeback here in Texas as well. Gorgeous sunset pair!
How awesome to end the year with such a gift of beauty to see! It is a thrill to see them, whether once for a moment or all the time. I am glad to hear a Texas comeback is occurring! Thank you, Shannon!
Love those eagles perched in the tree, even from a distance they are a beautiful sight.
More and more eagles will be sighted in trees all over the refuge in the coming months. I agree, they look so glorious up on them, even at a distance. 🙂
What marvelous photos of these impressive predators, Donna! You inspire me to travel to Blackwater one day.
Thank you, it is one of my go-to happy places any time during the year. The wildlife drive allows you to shoot from your car for many photo ops, that makes the birds happier. You have to be sneaky to get out and photograph, and they do get annoyed then with you. ha ha 🙂
I really must check it out! We have some favorite wildlife drives (though 3 hours north of us) in Florida, especially at Merritt Island NWR, adjacent to Cape Canaveral, and Lake Apopka, northwest of Orlando.
I’ve just saved to my Florida folder your mentioned drives for any of my future trips to Florida. 🙂
Great!!
Great images of the raptors you found, especially the northern harrier in flight!
You’re right about where they choose to perch, they seem to prefer power poles to trees around here, so I’m glad that you were able to find the pair of eagles in a tree rather to go with the photos of the ones on the poles.
Thank you Jerry! Yea, power pole shots aren’t so beautiful but the problem is they are usually closer to us for a photo op, allowing us to capture their amazing eyes and detail. So we take them anyway! 😉 But at the refuge, I primarily see them in trees, making for nicer images of their habitat.
If I see one raptor in a day, I think that I am lucky. Thank you for this treat.
You are very welcome, Tom! I was you could ride this 7-8 mile long wildlife drive. It is popular with cyclists too.
Beautiful photos, Donna. That RT looks like he was well aware of your lens upon him.
I wish I better knew hawks. Aside from the common RT, it’s a wild guess. I don’t have much practice. Sometimes I see Cooper’s in winter, hoping to grab something at the bird feeder, which I don’t like!
Thank you Eliza! Oh boy, when I stopped the car, he narrowed his glare right on me, telling me there’s not enough room on this road stretch for the two of us. 😉
I’m very fascinated with raptors, but I do try not to think about their choice of prey. I’ve watched Eagles grab ducks in mid-flight. I don’t know whether to praise or cry…..
Predators are necessary for the health of the flock or herd. It is just hard to watch. 😦 Yet, to be honest, I’m a meat-eater, so I cannot begrudge them theirs.
Perfectly said, Eliza!
My, the Harrier is a beautiful bird! Eagles I get to see most every day, but I’ve never seen a Harrier in person.
The Harriers are indeed beautiful! Although my only focused shot had him higher in the air, they usually fly/glide low over marshes, looking for rodents.
Exciting series, Donna. Great shots of these wonderful birds. The Eagle pair posed nicely! 🙂
Thank you, Jane! As long as there’s distance between us/them, some of the Eagles at the refuge are pretty tolerate of us humans trying to photograph them. The pair in the last photos are resident Eagles & are perched very close to their nest that they will soon be repairing for their upcoming breeding season this winter. Their huge nest is partially visible from the wildlife drive in a loblolly tree. 🙂
How fortunate you are to see and photograph these terrific birds. The eagles at sunset are particularly striking.
Thank you, Belinda, I feel very fortunate. I am excited to see the increase in population in the next couple months.
I’ll be following along😊
Very Nice Donna! One of my favorite places to photograph!
Thank you Reed! Definitely one of our go-to happy places!