Right out in front of "Birr's Eye View", Shirley patiently sat and shot the attack of what looks like a female eagle after a flock of illusive, ducking and diving coots evading the continuous assaults! Awesome! The coots huddle together (safety in numbers) and would duck-down to avoid being swept away! Shirley thinks the eagle got one.
An eagle will swoop down and often plunk in the water on top of the coot (rather then plucking it out of the water), sinking its talons in, in hopes to rise up with its catch. However, unlike ospreys, eagles don't have waterproof oily feathers; they have to get out quick, but it's surprising how long they'll be in the water---several seconds.
By the way, ospreys and eagles dislike one-another; they have aerial dogfights; the osprey will try to force the eagle into the water; high in the sky, the eagle will fly upside-down, talons up, fending off the smaller but quicker osprey; quite a sight to watch!
The eagle appears to be a young female because females can get up to a 9' (9-foot!) wingspan; it won't get its white head and white tail for 5 years; males get as large as 6' wingspans.
Here are some photos and videos Shirley took; click on the pics to enlarge and the links below to see all of Shirley's photos and videos. Life on the lake has many surprises and rewards! Roger
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