Bald Eagle and fish in the street

HARRYD

Driving home from church yesterday, we were just north of Main St in Leesburg on Hwy 27.  Out of no where a Bald Eagle, it full attack mode, swoop across the front of our car, just barely cleared the hood. He was after something in the street. After I caught my breath, looked down at the street to see what he was after. There was a decent size Crappie laying there. Before I could turn to tell my wife, she shouted "here he comes again". This time he was successful .  With the briefest 'touch and go', he had the fish and was circling to gain altitude.  I can only guess that he had dropped it as he was flying over.

A buddy of mine asked me if that could be classified as a fish story. My reply was, " which part of decent size Crappie" didn't you understand   

HARRYD

For anyone that might ask if I was sure it wasn't and Osprey, his full dark brown body, top to bottom with the exception of his head, left no doubt.

mburke001 aka TripleB

Didthe bird have white tail feathers?

Saltygatorvet

I’ve seen Bald eagles steal fish from ospreys many times, spend enough time on a north Florida lake and you will too. Most often both loose the fish. I bet a steak dinner it was stealing it from an osprey amd came back for it

HARRYD

mburke001 aka TripleB said:

Didthe bird have white tail feathers?

Yes, in "hind" sight he did. Why do you ask?

ANUMBER1

Bald eagle on 19 at Lebanon Station fl today feeding on roadkill, saw in am and pm.

mburke001 aka TripleB

HARRYD said:

mburke001 aka TripleB said:

Didthe bird have white tail feathers?

Yes, in "hind" sight he did. Why do you ask?

wasn't in your description, was wondering if it was a Golden eagle due to the coloring. 

lakeman

Once living on Lake Weir, a osprey or an eagle had a bass so big he could not fly with it, dropped it and almost hit my neighbor in the head with it.  He came back and sat in a tree, I guess pouting that he had dropped it.  We tried to put the fish where he could easily get it again, but he or she was too timid.

surfman

I see them all the time, was driving home from a job in Howey-in-the-Hills the other day and I see a Bald Eagle standing on the side of the road, I was only going about 40 so I hit the breaks, up ahead is a Fed-Ex truck stopped in the middle of the road, he is also looking back in disbelief. The eagle then flew off. No big deal really but, still kind of cool to see one, especially that close. Seen them flying in circles and locking talons with three birds flying together up in Steinhatchee. Now that is cool.

Moon Shadow

I see at least one  per fishing trip at Waccasassa during the winter.  It hard to get a decent picture from a bobbing boat and they are shy and fly away.   I was lucky to get this photo of a eagle on top of a tree on Waccasassa River

Slacker

No matter how many times you see them it is still a treat!

capt louie

I agree with saltygator. Watched one chase an osprey with a big bluegill and it got dropped on top of an over pass on 46 in Sanford. Too much traffic so neither one got it.

Jonsredfishin

I saw one by newnan’s lake out in the middle of the highway fighting with 4 buzzards over a roadkill possum. Disgraceful

Saltygatorvet

Jonsredfishin said:

I saw one by newnan’s lake out in the middle of the highway fighting with 4 buzzards over a roadkill possum. Disgraceful

That lake has a thick pop of ospreys and bald eagles. My first visit there in college, I saw a bald eagle try to steal a fish from 4 ospreys. On Kissimmee last weekend, I saw one circling with buzzards. The more you learn about bald eagles( especially first hand), the less majestic they become 

WB Drifter

Life can be a little hard at times.

https://forums.floridasportsman.com/discussion/210445/bob-life-can-be-a-little-hard-at-times

HARRYD

Saltygatorvet said:

 The more you learn about bald eagles( especially first hand), the less majestic they become 

I'll bet you enjoy telling kids there is no Santa Claus. I still believe they are majestic.

xmuskyguide

Looks like he has adjusted to a much harder life Darrell, while still maintaining his dignity. 
Harry, I'm sure most of us feel the way you do.

Widespread Panic

There is a pair of eagles that nest near Mason Creek. I see them almost everyday, they land on a power pole about 50 yards from the house. One neighbor feeds fish to several birds, herons, gulls and whatever else shows up. When the eagles show up all the other birds scatter. They leave in the summer, head north I assume, or maybe avoiding scallop season. 

Saltygatorvet

HARRYD said:

Saltygatorvet said:

 The more you learn about bald eagles( especially first hand), the less majestic they become 

I'll bet you enjoy telling kids there is no Santa Claus. I still believe they are majestic.

If you observe them in nature, you can form your own opinion. I don’t tell kids there is no Santa Claus, but I don’t mind telling adults the truth. They are beautiful,but they are scavenging, thieving bullies.

nick

Saw one and a golden eagle fight it out on an oyster bar in the river a few months ago. 

Wish I had video. It was pretty cool to watch. 

Doc Stressor

We don't have golden eagles down here.  They are rarely seen up in the Panhandle, but not on the peninsula.

Most likely you saw a juvenile bald eagle. It takes a few years for them to get the white feathers.  The juvies can be badasses since they haven't learned to be careful yet.  I used to put fish carcasses out in my yard and let the vultures clean them up.  One day a juvenile bald eagle landed, spread his wings, and charged into the pack of vultures.  Sent them flying in all directions before he took off with a carcass. 

mjn

I have seen 1000 bald eagles without ever trying. I've seen them in every state I have fished and canada. I have never seen them catch a meal, only steal a meal or eat something already on the ground.

They are plentiful, scavengers and not that impressive to me.

I can stare at an osprey indefinitely. Awesome birds.

nick

Doc Stressor said:

We don't have golden eagles down here.  They are rarely seen up in the Panhandle, but not on the peninsula.

Most likely you saw a juvenile bald eagle. It takes a few years for them to get the white feathers.  The juvies can be badasses since they haven't learned to be careful yet.  I used to put fish carcasses out in my yard and let the vultures clean them up.  One day a juvenile bald eagle landed, spread his wings, and charged into the pack of vultures.  Sent them flying in all directions before he took off with a carcass. 

Well dang. 

I wondered why they tasted just like bald eagle. 

Saltygatorvet

nick said:

Doc Stressor said:

We don't have golden eagles down here.  They are rarely seen up in the Panhandle, but not on the peninsula.

Most likely you saw a juvenile bald eagle. It takes a few years for them to get the white feathers.  The juvies can be badasses since they haven't learned to be careful yet.  I used to put fish carcasses out in my yard and let the vultures clean them up.  One day a juvenile bald eagle landed, spread his wings, and charged into the pack of vultures.  Sent them flying in all directions before he took off with a carcass. 

Well dang. 

I wondered why they tasted just like bald eagle. 

Great response 

Alex from GA

I tried one and it tasted like spotted owl to me.

backwatercole

Best I've had was fried in manatee fat. 

AC Man

Personally I've never seen a bald eagle  fishing in the big bend in 30 years. Maybe I am not very observent.

As far as birds dropping fish? I have found them on my roof and in my pool at the beach house in Ormond Beach. Trust me, you dont't have to be to smart to know a dead fish is on your roof. The smell will knock you over.

MRichardson

For the record, I have seen a bald eagle catch a fish.
But I've seen them bully ospreys a bunch.  And why not?  
Here in Central FL there's an osprey flying around with a fish 
just about anywhere you look. Nature's Chinese delivery for bald eagles.
(Ospreys seem like they could be Chinese if they were people)

HARRYD

I have a ten acre pond behind my house. I have seen Bald Eagles hit the water twice. Once it was touch and go with a fish. Second time fish was to big for Eagle to lift off. It swam to shore and tore strips from fish.

Snook Spanker

I was with Capt. Louie that day on the St. Johns River shad fishing when the eagle was tormenting that poor osprey with the bluegill. What he didn't tell you is when he finally dropped it, it landed on the bridge crossing the rive right in the middle of the street! Although both birds circled for a while, neither could catch a break in traffic to drop and get the prize!
On our way home we had to cross the bridge and there was the bluegill flat as a pancake right where it landed!!