Youngster

Immature Bald Eagle: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, January 2026 — I took a photoprowl down along the path through the marsh beside the river. It is deep January now, so there was not much happening other than a large flock of Canada Geese and some ducks, but just as I turned back to the car, a raptor came sailing in over the marsh, low. My immediate impression was Northern Harrier. I lost it as it flew low against the trees out near the road, but then picked up what I thought was the same bird in the air coming back. Now I was doubting myself though. It no longer looked like a Harrier, though it was behaving like one…flying low and buzzing the ducks. Eventually it soared right over me. By then, of course, I was under the pines that line the trail just before it reaches the road again, but I managed a few shots as it passed through openings in the canopy. Definitely not a Harrier. I was eager to get home and look at the images more closely to see what I had seen. This image is, unmistakably, an immature Bald Eagle (first year according to Gemini AI), but I did also get one shot of the Northern Harrier (against the light and only just good enough to make out what the bird is), so I did indeed see two different raptors behaving like a Harrier. Sony a6700. Sigma 16-300 at 450mm equivalent field of view (cropped to something like 800mm). Program with my action modifications. Processed in Photomator.

One Comment

  1. Reply
    Stanwyn S Clough January 24, 2026

    magnificent capture, Steve . . .

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