Countdown 365 T-36

TOTAL MILES: 52.7 MILES ~ WILDLIFE: 26 MOOSE

Checking the morning weather forecast and looking at the Doppler Radar, a storm front was moving in from the east with moderate winds and light snowfall. Disregarding the weather, I left at daylight to cover my normal route consisting of the south end of the North Fork Loop Road between Anchor Point and Homer. In this ten miles section of the Anchor River Valley, I would count a total of twenty-six moose. Again, cows and calves. I have now come to the conclusion that the big Bull Moose have shed their antlers due to the weight. The smaller bulls will retain their antlers a little longer.

Although, the wind was increasing and the snow picking up intensity, I decided to drive to the Homer Spit to observe the American Bald Eagles. Arriving on the Homer Spit, the weather that I had experienced in the Anchor River Valley was mild. The wind was hitting the Homer Spit on the leeward side (east) at 35 - 45 knots and snowing. It was not pretty on the Homer Spit. I did find the Eagles. The majority of them were sitting on the rocks at the entrance to the Homer Harbor below the rim in order to get out of the wind. They were grounded for the day. Taking this as a clue, I decided to head to the sanctuary of home.

At the base of the Homer Spit there is a large parking lot on the windward (west) side of the spit, today it was vacant except for two Eagles sparring over something on the ground. Deciding to investigate, I pulled into the lot and park about twenty feet from the two Eagles. The point of contention between the two of them was what appeared to be a large ham bone. Although, with the wind and falling snow it was not ideal picture taking weather. While I was preparing my camera, the disagreement concluded and one of the Eagles flew away to join three other Eagles further down the beach.

After getting a couple of pictures of the Eagle feeding on the bone, a second Eagle appeared on the scene at a higher elevation to get a good aerial view of the situation.

Gliding in, he made a "flyover" of the target area,

I just happened to be in his "glide path" and at eye level with him.

Coming out of his "glide" he picked up speed and passed over me with about two feet of clearance between the two of us,

He increased his altitude to about thirty feet at full power into the wind, and then banked hard to starboard to make his bombing run. Unfortunately, it happened so fast I only captured a portion of the "impact" as he dive bombed the grounded Eagle. He struck the Eagle on the ground, squarely in the middle of the back, sending the two of them rolling on the ground.

Recovering from the aerial assault, they commenced the "dominance fight" on the ground over the bone. This skirmish lasted several minutes, until the "new arrival" was declared the victor and the other flew away to join the other Eagles further down the beach.

After feeding on the meat laden bone, the victor decided that he would locate a more secure location than the "open beach" to enjoy his newly acquired meal. Protected by the rock wall in front of him and bushes protecting him from an aerial attack, he settled in to enjoy his lunch. In due time, a second Eagle showed up on the scene, not wanting to get in a skirmish with the victor, he was content on sitting on a sign post and talking trash. It was a great display, although it would have been ideal not to have the snow inferring with the shots, it does show that regardless of the specie, life is not always easy or fair, you just make the best out it and deal with just those things that you have some control.