WHERE EAGLES DARE....
Klamath Basin/Tulelake
A little late as usual, but then sometimes living life is more important than trying to write about it.
February 2013, Anniversary number 7. A four day weekend at Running Y Ranch in Klamath Falls, Oregon sounded like a lot of fun. Although this year's snow levels ended on the low end, we did start the season out pretty strong. With that in mind I had great ideas of snow shoeing around Crater Lake or cross country skiing at Lake of the Woods. Either would have made for a great get away. Unfortunately the missus was still recovering from a severe bout of the flu. There would be no extreme snow sports this weekend.
As I worked to stifle my disappointment, something I am apparently not very good at, an amazing experience was in the process of unfolding. It has come to my attention that I might have an unusual obsession with the North American Bald Eagle. I personally don't see it but recent events would imply that my family may have a point.
We headed out the morning of our anniversary not really sure where exactly we were headed. We had seen a flyer advertising a week long bird watching festival in an area known as Tule Lake. The festival wasn't to officially start until the following week but we figured birds didn't use the same calendar so started in that direction. Now I already knew the Klamath Falls area was home to multiple bald eagles but I had know idea what I was about to encounter.
Turns out that between December and February Tule Lake Wild Life Refuge is a major stopping point for all species of birds. Canadian Geese, Mallards, the White Pelican, all sorts of water fowl.
Then there are the birds of prey....THE RAPTORS! Golden Eagles, Coopers Hawks, Red Tail Hawks, Ospre, numerous others.....and of course The North American Bald Eagle.
During these months Tule Lake is the home to a multitude of bird species. The National Parks estimate there to be over 500 Bald Eagles in the area between December and February.
Our first sighting was a lone Baldie perched on a telephone pole. As I approached the eagle took off. Toby was quite quick with her i-phone and was able to snap this picture. I admit it wasn't my photo, and with that I admit my envy. About this time I was getting really upset with Santa for not bringing me the digital camera I asked for just a few months earlier.
Be sure to click on the photos to see them a little larger. Helps put it in perspective......well just a little.
Over the next few hours we witnessed several baldies soaring over head, but the really interesting ones seemed to like hanging out on the edge of the ice. An amazing view to see such large birds walking on the ice at the waters edge.
As we left the Tule Lake area we headed into Lower Klamath and yet another set of surprises.
What first appeared to be a large gathering of numerous species of water birds we soon realized we were smack in the middle of what can only be described as Alfred Hitchcock's original inspiration for his movie "The Birds"! I can't even begin to estimate the total number.....100,000 or a million plus....I just know there was a BUNCH!
Apparently raptors are not the only birds who like the area this time of year. A number of species of migratory birds literally poured in. The photos do not do justice to the magnitude of this experience. Our poor little i-phones were just no match for the enormous number of birds.
However, I will credit the video for still picking up the sounds of the birds as they took off and began circling over head.
Just a short quarter to half mile down the road past the migratory birds we spied the "clump of trees" the park services employee had told us to look for to find some bald eagles. I was already feeling as though we had seen what was probably there, in low teens at this point. But that number was about to grow, substantially.
The following are unfortunately made difficult to clearly see due to the setting sun, however if you look close enough you will see multiple raptors sharing the trees. Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles abound!
There are actually two baldies in the next few pictures (same nest). I tried multiple angles hoping to catch both at the same time. Ironically the eagle in the nest is only really visible in the photo with the sun blaring through and blocking out the other one.
At the end of the day we had counted over 35 Bald Eagles! I lost count of the Goldens and don't know the other raptor species well enough to have kept an accurate count but there were a lot. An amazing day that started out with the disappointment of not be able to go skiing or hiking. But an adventure does not need planning. Some of the most memorable start out with a simple "Let's go for a drive".
as always,
bkd
and to my family; I am not the only person who sees that the eagle represents great things......
**************************************************************************
We headed out the morning of our anniversary not really sure where exactly we were headed. We had seen a flyer advertising a week long bird watching festival in an area known as Tule Lake. The festival wasn't to officially start until the following week but we figured birds didn't use the same calendar so started in that direction. Now I already knew the Klamath Falls area was home to multiple bald eagles but I had know idea what I was about to encounter.
One should take note:
When riding as a passenger during a
"let's get lost sight seeing" adventure
you should always be prepared to stop for photos
every few hundred feet.
This day was no exception.
Turns out that between December and February Tule Lake Wild Life Refuge is a major stopping point for all species of birds. Canadian Geese, Mallards, the White Pelican, all sorts of water fowl.
Then there are the birds of prey....THE RAPTORS! Golden Eagles, Coopers Hawks, Red Tail Hawks, Ospre, numerous others.....and of course The North American Bald Eagle.
During these months Tule Lake is the home to a multitude of bird species. The National Parks estimate there to be over 500 Bald Eagles in the area between December and February.
Our first sighting was a lone Baldie perched on a telephone pole. As I approached the eagle took off. Toby was quite quick with her i-phone and was able to snap this picture. I admit it wasn't my photo, and with that I admit my envy. About this time I was getting really upset with Santa for not bringing me the digital camera I asked for just a few months earlier.
Be sure to click on the photos to see them a little larger. Helps put it in perspective......well just a little.
Over the next few hours we witnessed several baldies soaring over head, but the really interesting ones seemed to like hanging out on the edge of the ice. An amazing view to see such large birds walking on the ice at the waters edge.
 |
| Tule Lake, Northern California |
 |
| yeah it's not clear but I am after all just using an i-phone (number 3 that is) |
What first appeared to be a large gathering of numerous species of water birds we soon realized we were smack in the middle of what can only be described as Alfred Hitchcock's original inspiration for his movie "The Birds"! I can't even begin to estimate the total number.....100,000 or a million plus....I just know there was a BUNCH!
 |
| Mt. Mcloughlin in the background......Well I think it is. I was facing north so it should be..... |
Apparently raptors are not the only birds who like the area this time of year. A number of species of migratory birds literally poured in. The photos do not do justice to the magnitude of this experience. Our poor little i-phones were just no match for the enormous number of birds.
However, I will credit the video for still picking up the sounds of the birds as they took off and began circling over head.
 |
| Sharing a Perch Bald Eagle (L) and Golden Eagle (R) |
The following are unfortunately made difficult to clearly see due to the setting sun, however if you look close enough you will see multiple raptors sharing the trees. Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles abound!
There are actually two baldies in the next few pictures (same nest). I tried multiple angles hoping to catch both at the same time. Ironically the eagle in the nest is only really visible in the photo with the sun blaring through and blocking out the other one.
At the end of the day we had counted over 35 Bald Eagles! I lost count of the Goldens and don't know the other raptor species well enough to have kept an accurate count but there were a lot. An amazing day that started out with the disappointment of not be able to go skiing or hiking. But an adventure does not need planning. Some of the most memorable start out with a simple "Let's go for a drive".
 |
| Klamath Lake, Klamath Falls, Oregon Frozen February 2013 |
as always,
bkd
and to my family; I am not the only person who sees that the eagle represents great things......
**************************************************************************
