Since this will be about the last February weekend that I’ll be able to get out to Lackawaxen to see the Bald Eagles, I made a point to set the whole thing aside as potential eagle time.  According to the literature, after February the eagles start to migrate back north, except for any nesting pairs.  Reports of sightings in the area have numbered into the teens and higher for a single afternoon, which made me optimistic.  I figured that in addition to the Zane Gray site, I’d head into NY, up around Monguap and check out the sites there.

Bald Eagles at the Zane Gray site

Suffice to say, the Eagle Institute map leaves something to be desire.  I had compared it to Google Maps before leaving and had pulled coordinates for each site to feed into the GPS, but even so I was completely unable to find the first site, a blind up on the Rio Reservoir.  The second site turned out to be the most exciting, although it was only a pull-off on the side of the road, where you have to shoot from your car.  Still, I got to see an immature Bald Eagle in a tree across the river, and one of his friends made a low pass right near that car.

Immature Bald Eagle in tree

Flyby of an immature Bald Eagle

Given the four hours of driving, I wish I had more shots to come home with, but such are the odds when you go out after wildlife.  I’m also a bit concerned, since my Sigma telephoto seemed to be acting up; until today it’s been a very sharp lens, but this afternoon it seemed to be going soft on me.  I’ll need to test it later and tomorrow to see if it’s really an issue, or I’m just being flaky.

Tomorrow’s weather is supposed to be even better, so perhaps I’ll drive back out for a part two expedition.