ermal (thanks Nick) I saw what looked like a large hawk. However as I approached, I realized it was a bald eagle (white head, brown feathers and yellow beak/talons). This is the first time I have seen a bald eagle in Pendleton. Red-tailed hawks, peregrine falcons and the occasional golden eagle are more typical raptor visitors. This was a majestic, humbling sight. After a few minutes, a red-tailed hawk joined the thermal below us. The eagle’s quickly scanning head movements froze and locked on the hawk. A few seconds later he tucked in his wings and rolled into a dive toward the hawk. The hawk, sensing that something was up, also tucked in his wings and rolled into a similar dive, away from the eagle. It was like watching a raptor version of “Top Gun”. That evening I searched for more information about bald eagles in Ontario and discovered that they are making a strong comeback and the number of sightings has increased dramatically over the last 6 years. 20 years of flying at Pendleton and every year there is something new to discover… (photo: John Michell)Roger
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