Eagle Antics

Yesterday on the way to work, I stopped by Peace Valley and scoped out the flocks of Canada Geese and Common Mergansers. But most of the time I spent watching a young Bald Eagle (photo source here) circle, swoop, and dive on the merganser flock. For over 10 minutes it harried the ducks, causing them to dive as it swooped low. Once a Canada Goose even dove under the water as the eagle swooped low. The whole time, the eagle was being chased and dive-bombed by Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls. While magestic to watch, it seemed obvious why eagles spend more time feasting on carrion than hunting ducks--with those huge wings, the bird wasn't the fastest or most agile aerial hunter. Quite a spectacle to take in before a day at the office.