Early Friday afternoon I was driving out NYS-96 toward Trumansburg to pick up a fare. As I approached Agard Rd I noticed a large dark bird with a dihedral soaring low distantly off to my right. I'm not sure what prompted me to stop and turn around for a better look -- was it Ann's report of Golden Eagle the day before in Ithaca? the way this bird flapped occasionally? its steadiness in flight? the darkness of the view of the wings indicating a broader less curved shape? the way it was being harassed by crows? Anyway, I turned around at Halseyville Rd, pulled over, and picked up the binoculars (in that order). Meanwhile the bird had worked its way closer, and I got my best look ever at an immature GOLDEN EAGLE. The tail was long and wedge-shaped, white with a broad dark brown terminal band. The basal part of the underside of the primaries of each wing formed a white patch which did not show above. The wing coverts formed a broad medium brown band extending out from the shoulders. The crown and nape were clearly golden. Otherwise the bird was very dark brown. The wings were quite broad and straight, without the crooks and tapering of Turkey Vulture wings, and the head was more obvious than the neck of a Turkey Vulture. Four American Crows were attending it, one even grabbing at its tail, but they looked puny by comparison. The eagle seemed to ignore the crows as it wandered eastward toward the upper part of Taughannock Falls State Park. I'm wondering if this was the same bird Ann saw, and it's hanging around the area, or whether they are moving through.
--Dave Nutter
On Apr 21, 2011, at 02:36 PM, Ann Mitchell <[email protected]> wrote:
While driving on Rte 13 just around the Green Street turn, a GOLDEN EAGLE was soaring above me. I watched it for 30-60 seconds, then it headed south. Great city bird!Best, Ann
