Connecticut is on the major migration path for many birds, lots of warblers in the spring, shore birds on the coast, and any number of year round/summer species; but it isn’t really known for spectacular, high-profile species.  However, for the past few years a bald eagle pair has nested on one of the drinking water reservoirs nearby.  These reservoirs are some of the largest blocks of completely undisturbed forest and water in the state, owned by quasi-private companies and off-limits to the public, they are not only drinking water reservoirs but increasingly valuable travel corridors and breeding habitats for animals ranging from the odd moose, the black bear, fishers, osprey, innumerable woodland birds and smaller animals, and the subject of this lay, the bald eagle. Towns lucky enough to have water company land have a good jump on open space, though since it is not formally protected as such, complacency is unwise. 

In any event, we have bald eagles nearby, but not close and not many.  I have seen them to know them only twice in the wild, both times in the same spot, here in northwestern Connecticut, and the second time was today.

I was out doing some yard work and just happened to be looking east as a big male rose up just over the tops of the trees, so close you could see the individual wing feathers fully lit by the setting sun, and went soaring down across the meadow.  We watched him for some time as he worked his way higher and then angled off to the north, back towards the river valley and the reservoir.  The first eagle was on the same flight path earlier this year, so it may well be the same one. I am glad they are back.