Eric Gofreed
Well-Known Member
I had a most incredible encounter with a bald eagle hunting an American coot at Lake Pleasant. Eagles are incredibly lazy and opportunists during salmon runs, road kills, and scraps left over by other predators. They are notorious scavengers. When carrion is scarce they hunt fish, waterfowl, and small mammals. We saw this eagle from a distance dive and remain on the water. When we arrived the coot was not visible but within a few minutes, the coot was behind the eagle. The eagle realized the coot escaped and took to the air. Hoping to recapture the wounded coot, the eagle attacked 4 or 5 more times. Each time the coot avoided the attacks by submerging before the eagle arrived. Perhaps next week I'll post the rest of the story.
Notice the coot behind the eagle
The eagle is watching his prey escape.
The eagle is banking and preparing for the next attack
Full dive staring at the coot
Still in attack mode.
Notice the coot behind the eagle
The eagle is watching his prey escape.
The eagle is banking and preparing for the next attack
Full dive staring at the coot
Still in attack mode.