Adult bald eagle snatching a fish from Pohick Bay. Photos by Donald Sweig
A large gathering of bald eagles has congregated around Pohick Bay in southeastern Fairfax County recently. There were lots of eagles evident on each of my several visits to Pohick Bay Regional Park in mid/late February.
When I arrived at the park about 8:15 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 21, drove down to the far end of the big parking lot, and got out of my car, I immediately counted twenty-three adult and immature bald eagles in the trees along the bay shore just to the west of the parking lot, a distance of maybe 50 or 60 yards.
There were additional eagles in the trees surrounding the parking lot, including one immature bird sitting on a log right by the shore unperturbed by a number of folks running around photographing it.
There was also a lot of eagle talk emanating from the birds in the trees. It was quite amazing.
Later that morning, using my spotting telescope, I counted at least sixty-five bald eagles in view, on both sides of the bay. The day before, two experienced birders from a local bird club posted that they had counted over one hundred eagles from the same location. The large number of bald eagles also precipitated a gathering of photographers and birders, at least eight or ten of whom were on the beach that morning, most with fancy cameras and long telephoto lenses.
There is a simple reason for this gathering of America's National Bird ... FISH. Bald eagles are classified in the biological genus haliaeetus; they’re fish eagles. And, where there are abundant fish, you often find abundant fish eagles.
Over several days, the eagles were actively and easily plucking what appeared to be shad from the waters of Pohick Bay.
Both the white-headed and white-tailed adult bald eagles, and the variously white-speckled brown immature eagles participated in the feast. There were often several eagles flying around over the bay and fishing at the same time. Sometimes, when one of the eagles would catch a fish, another eagle would show up and try to steal the prize. On one occasion, I observed two adult bald eagles have a mid-air talon grappling encounter over a fish, with one of the eagles flying upside down under the other one. But there seemed to be plenty of fish to go around. It was quite a show.
Other folks seem to think so as well, because there were a number of people observing and photographing the activity. On my most recent trip to the park, Friday afternoon Feb. 26, there appeared to be fewer eagles gathered than the week before, but still plenty to be seen and enjoyed.
WHERE TO GO SEE THE EAGLES: The easiest place to see and enjoy the eagles is Pohick Bay Regional Park, which is off of Gunston Road on Mason Neck in southeastern Fairfax County. The park is free for Fairfax County and most other local residents.
From Gunston Road drive down the entrance road into the park, go about three-quarters of the way around the circle drive at the bottom, turn right into the big parking lot, go past the boat ramps and piers to the end of the parking lot. You should find eagles in the trees just off the end of the parking lot. There may be eagles in the trees around the parking lot as well.
If you have binoculars or any sort of a camera with a telephoto lens be sure to bring them along. If the eagle gathering has dissipated by the time you get around to checking it out, just put it on your calendar for next year, mid-February 2017.
I did.