Azalea in Va Beach for Christmas
December 25, 2011Camellia Back at Norfolk Botanical Garden
December 28, 2011December has been one fantastic month for photographing and identifying Norfolk Botanical Garden juvenile bald eagles that are wearing purple identification bands. Today was another of those days. This morning Duane Noblick captured images of 2009 NBG eagle banded HK, the younger brother of Azalea who is banded HH and wearing a satellite transmitter – http://eagletrak.blogs.wm.edu. Duane’s photos enable us to positively identify HK by its distinctive plummage, especially tail pattern, back and wing pattern. His photo’s are in Photographers Nest at www.norfolkeagles.com. This afternoon I was fortunate to be off Ware Neck Rd in Virginia Beach on the North Landing River that runs through the Honey Bee Golf Course when HK came fishing. He made one pass hitting a fish, a shad I believe, and knocking it about 3 feet into the air but not grabbing it. Note the double-crested cormorants and great blue herons watching the action. HK made a circle around and came in again and this time he was successful. Click photos to enlarge. (Photos copyright Reese F Lukei Jr)
34 Comments
Great going Reese. Ready for a Canon yet? lol It’s nice to see so many of the NBG Eagles out and about in the area doing well. Memorable weekend to say the least.
Response – Meant to tell you that I use a Canon printer, so I am warming up to a possible change!
Oh my goodness! Mr. Lukei, thanks so very much for your continued professional and heartwarming pictures! May you enjoy a beautiful New Year, and know we all love you, and certainlyyyyyyy appreciate you and your work!
Shaunna
Behavior a mother would be proud of…..
Wonderful series Reese. So glad you were there and caught the action. It is good to know our chicks are out there doing well and coming back home or close to home for at least visits. Hopefully when the time comes, they will find a nest area close to Dad. Maybe we could even follow thier chicks someday. It is so nice to know for sure they are safe and close by
Oh, wow! These guys came from sturdy stock; so glad to see more NBG offspring beating the odds! Great photos – thanks for sharing.
Mr. Lukei, such beautiful photos and I know EXACTLY where you were standing!
Response – Surprised that I have not yet seen you there!
These are awesome photos. So glad so many of our babies are coming home for the holidays.
Wow those are fantastic and wonderful to know that so many NBG eagles are doing so well!!! I am looking forward to the new nesting season and some new beautiful bobble heads. Thank you for all the great pic’s and info!!!
Great captures, Reese! I remember him when he was just a little tyke. 🙂 Thanks so much!
Oh my goodness!!!!!!! The kids are nearby, and what great photos of HK you captured. He’s beautiful, as are all the NBG Eagles… Thank you sooooo much Reese for all you do, and for sharing much of it with us… we’d never have this chance to follow our eagles if not for you and CCB, VDGIF, WCV, NBG… and wonderful, persistant photographers!! I don’t know how to thank you enough. so… thank you times at least a billion!
Thanks so much for sharing. These pictures are beautiful.
Oh Reese, this is just absolutely fantastic and special. What is your personal opinion on the fact that those babies are coming back and are so close to their nest? Is this a unusual or a regular pattern of eagles? Was it documented before? Also, is it possible that the juvenile that was tolerated in the same tree as Dad and the new Lady last week would be her own eaglet that followed her to the Garden? Thank you for following this beloved family of eagles. I was very, very happy about ”my” NV!!! Happy Holidays and many Blessings to you.
Response – It is normal for juveniles to wander about, but return to their natal region, so we would expect to find NBG born eagles here locally. We believe this is the first breeding year for the new NBG female, so not her youngster.
What an exciting series of photos. You must have had a ball! Thank you so much for “trolling” for our NBG eagles. It’s so good to confirm they are doing well. Oceanview
Great series! I’m sure you’ve heard the term some of the Norfolk photographers use when especially good photos are shared…I’ll spare you and not use it on your blog…but it applies. 🙂
Oh WOW – how great that you got the picture of our HK fishing. I remember the day, standing next to you at the garden, as he was trying to return to the nest and his sisters had other ideas. Poor fella – begged and pleaded, eventually making it back. I guess he has always been my favorite and to see him flying and fishing and doing what we always tell people they will do, just makes me so so happy. Now when someone asks “how will they make it on their own”, I can say without reservation “they will learn.”
Thank you for all you do for us. This has been a remarkable Christmas season and I think we have all been given a wonderful gift, seeing the NBG eagles from previous years, surviving, together and returning to their natal area.
Thank you Reese for posting the photos! My Dad and I have been watching since the first year the camera was up and running so it’s nice to see how much the little ones have grown up and how well they are doing on their own!
Happy New Year and continued success to the CCM program!
Reese, this would be a fantastic series of shots of a juvie fishing…but to know that it’s “our” HK is incredibly exciting! It’s so nice to know that more than just Camellia and Azalea from the previous years’ birds are doing so well. Thank you!
I keep trying to be cool and detached about these eagles, but I’m so STOKED that many of the NBG eagles are flying around and fishing nearby where I can see them. Thank you, Reese, and all you photographers out there for showing us what you’re witnessing.
Wow! How great to see one of our babies all grown up and doing well! Awesome! Thanks for all the updates and pictures you post for us. Pictures of Dad and his new lady are great too!
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year to you Reese!
Wow! What great action shots of HK! It’s comforting to know that they do learn how to get fish out of the water on their own. Thanks for providing these shots for those of us not lucky enough to be there! A happy and healthy New Year to you Reese!
WOW….wonderful action series, Reese and to have the other birds as background eye candy is fantastic.
All I can say is “WOW”! These pictures are
absolutely beautiful. Thanks for your time and effort in making it possible for us to see one of our “Kids” fishing.
Mr. Lukei – What an amazing series of pictures. I’ve been following the NBG eagles since 2008 and Buddy. Is there a record kept indicating which of the eaglets have been seen after they fledged? Wondered what the survival rate was for our eaglets compared to the norm (is the norm < 50% thru the 1st year?) – My random scribblings show – 2009: HH (Azalea) and HK seen, but not HE; 2010: NC (Camillia) seen, but not ND or NE (my boy!); 2011: NX at WCV and NV seen, but not NZ. How are survival records kept for eagles? Best wishes for a healthy and happy 2012. Susan
Response – I believe your notes are correct except that HE has been seen and photographed this past week. There has been a report of NE being seen, but never able to confirm.
WOW WOW WOW what a series! Thanks so much for posting it for us. Thanks also for the Christmas Eve screen caps– this has indeed been a great month for NBG banded eagles.
Reese…I’m fairly certain all the siblings from the 2009 nesting season have been seen/photographed this year….HK and HE at Honeybee and Azalea up north. This is in reference to Susans notes…..
Those are fantastic Reese!! Glad you were able to capture those shots. You all sure had an exciting Christmas weekend there! Thanks for sharing with us all!!
Talk about being in the right place at the right time…wow! Lucky you for the photos and lucky US that you shared! Love all the pics.
Reese, you are the original Eagle Magnet! Isn’t it interesting how the more attn and focus you have on Eagles the more likely they are to make their way to you somehow? Just my spiritual bent. Thanks so much for everything you do. Hope you were able to hear/see my and Rhoda’s I’ll Be Home for Xmas video card…. Will email to you just in case. (((hugs))) how many people have you got now for the BEAR trip?
Has anyone else noted how beautiful the inside wings of all the NBG eagles are? It seems to me that it must be a trait of our beloved MOM and DAD Norfolk. I remember the very first time I saw NV standing on the “A” frame after taking his first bath at WCV, with his wings spread, drying them in the sunlight….It was such a great surprise to me. When they are small and you cant see the underneath, they look only brownish-black and you have no idea how beautiful the under side is…breath- takingly beautiful! These pictures show us that all of these once babies from NBG truly are. Very nice pictures, thank you, thank you, Reese. Have a Happy New Year 2012. We of EAGLE NATION are looking forward to the time when we can see for ourselves. BUT until that time,,,,,Thank you for thinking of us and keeping us updated…..You have no idea how much we all appreciate your sharing, and letting us know what is going on with the others who are free.
Uttely beautiful beautiful pictures…….. Thank you Reese!ripagur
Lucky you, lucky us, Reese. (Another) fine gift for all of us!!
What a terrific way to end a tough year.
We sure do have lots of eagle-trackers doing super work finding our NBG kids!
Spectacular series of photos and what a backdrop! Herons, cormorants…thank you and Happy New Year! The legacy goes on…
All I can say is WOW! Fantastic shots. It is wonderful to know that our babies are still in the area. They are turning into such beautiful young eagles. Thank you for posting these for all eagle lovers out here.
Awesome!