On a recent visit to the Poo Ponds we came across a White-bellied Sea-Eagle enjoying lunch. These eagles are generally seen soaring along the coastline looking for food or nesting inland at the ephemeral lakes. They are a magnificent sight with their wing span at approximately 2 metres and their distinct upswept wings. They chase and successfully catch shorebirds as well as ducks and can be seen taking fish from the ocean as well. It is not an easy task trying to photograph a White-bellied Sea-Eagle as it soars along the coast, so when you discover one sat in a tree enjoying lunch it enables you to focus on everything that is magnificent about this bird of prey. The nests that they build are huge and consist of large sticks generally close to water. This one was photographed very close to town and the tree has been used for several years and had been alive until recently.

 White-bellied Sea-Eagle and nest

Now, if you don’t want to see any bits of meat-most likely bits of a Plumed Whistling-Duck-may I suggest you just look at the first two photos and then move on….

 

White-bellied Sea-Eagle being rather cautious as we pull up

Note the talons on this bird-not to be messed with!

Lunch proceeds from here on…..

  

A piece of meat is dropped and it considers what to do….

It decides to not take any risks with the remaining meat and wolfs it down-eyes half shut-in one big gulp.

If you like eagles then you should see how magnificent our Wedge-tailed Eagle is.

Written by Clare M
Clare and her husband, Grant, have lived permanently in Broome, Western Australia since 1999 after living in various outback locations around Western Australia and Darwin. She has lived in the Middle East and the United States and traveled extensively in Europe. She monitors Pied Oystercatchers breeding along a 23km stretch of Broome's coastline by bicycle and on foot. She chooses not to participate in social media, but rather wander off into the bush for peace and tranquility. Thankfully she can write posts in advance and get away from technology!