Eagles and Osprey and Avocets, Oh My

Upper Truckee Marsh

Piers with storm clouds

Piers at Upper Truckee Marsh

 

Stormy to the east, sunshine to the west, clouds coming and going. Just another beautiful Tahoe morning for birding.

Adult Bald Eagle in flight

Eagle ! Eagle! Eagle!

 

 

Steller’s Jays squawking outted Baldy perched in the pines. As we looked up from underneath, it was time to leave…

 

Flock of American Avocets and a Green-winged Teal

Who invited the duck?

 

Shorebirds stop at Tahoe on migration to breeding grounds further north. This group of American Avocets was joined by a Green-winged Teal.

Osprey Soaring

First Osprey of the season soars overhead

 

 

Cruising downstream above the Upper Truckee came an Osprey – our first of the season. Suddenly, with a flare upward, it paused for a moment in flight, then dove and rapidly left. What???

 

 

Immature Bald Eagle taking flight

A 2nd-3rd year Bald Eagle – note the white armpits

 

 

Then Lynn spotted an immature Bald Eagle perched in the pines across the river.