Juvenile Bald Eagle and Crow

I skirt by the bald eagles' nest by the Jericho Youth Hostel at Locarno Park in Vancouver but don't see either of the adults or the eagle baby. As expected. The adult eagles have taken the newly-fledged eagle baby up after the salmon run. They will likely return without him, then take a break through the winter before they start nesting again in February.

I head out on the tidal flats at Spanish Banks to find any of the other adults or maybe some of the juvenile bald eagles I have seen through the summer. Usually I head straight to the water's edge, but today I think I spot something interesting closer to shore still quite a ways west of where I am now. As I make my way closer I hope nothing sends it into flight before I can get there with my camera.

I am lucky that there are not too many people in the direct vicinity. Most beachgoers today are either taking in some rays on the sand or out at the edge of the low tide, a full kilometer into English Bay. There is a juvenile bald eagle perched on a log, with a pesky crow in attendance. I sneak up carefully, moving around so I can get a shot of both of them.

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It really gives some perspective as to the eagle's size.

(pesky crow peeking out from behind the log, like it knows it's a big pain in the butt!)
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Eventually the crow flies off and the juvenile bald eagle has a moment to itself, gazing out over the open ocean. What does it see, I wonder?

(check out those claws, do NOT get in the way!)
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As usual with the juvenile bald eagles s/he is soon on the move. Again with a pesky crow in attendance. This shot gives another demonstration of the size difference.

 
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A funny shot from behind of the juvenile bald eagle landing.
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Soon s/he flies back to the trees. I wander about on the tidal flats for a bit before heading home. At one point another juvenile bald eagle flies over head, is it a new arrival or is it in some of shots of previous days?

Summer is waning, we're well into September now. Low tide days are becoming fewer, and the tide doesn't go out nearly as far so I have to be really quick. Not sure what the coming weeks will bring but I will be out with the camera as much as possible!

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