[Leica] Eagles in the mist

[Howard Cummer]

Went this morning back to the eagle lookout on a cloudy, slightly misty day:

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSCF7355.jpg.html

Mama eagle was sitting in the nest keeping the chicks warm

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_3878.jpg.html

Another view of chick warming - the lack of sunlit shadows pleased me:

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSCF7447.jpg.html

After about an hour the Mama called out several times and flew out of the nest to stand guard several trees away
waiting for the next food delivery from Papa:

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSCF7447.jpg.html

Mama extended her right wing as if to dry it - arthritis perhaps?

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_3902.jpg.html

Turned left to continue drying:

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_3904.jpg.html

The aggressive crow and the eagle ignored each other:

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_3895-Pano.jpg.html

The chicks were left exposed to the cool damp - maybe Mama is toughening them up Spartan style;

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_3924.jpg.html

One chick is growing more quickly - and its feet are much bigger:

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Howard+Cummer/Canada+2020/Birds/DSC_3909.jpg.html

If survival of the fittest prevails - and it almost always does - the bigger chick will
eventually push the weaker one out of the nest.

Papa with the fish never did arrive and eventually we had to go for lunch. He arrived about
10 minutes after we left. Of course.

May be view large if you like. C&C always welcome. Camera info at the top of each picture.

Howard