Hello everyone :hello:

I just finished posting all of my pics and videos over at Eagleholics Anonymous from the incredible trip I was on to see all of these magnificent Eagles and other wildlife. Sunshinecoast/Marg suggested I bring some of those pics and vids over here as a record of my time at the 2012 FVBEF. Videos are best watched full screen and HD.

It was wonderful meeting up with old friends Evaklk/Kathy, hikerbikergram/Linda and elle/Lynda and meeting new ones from this site. It was nice to be able to put a face to a name (or online handle) when we see the names so many times on the Hancock site. Names and people I remember meeting included Gemini/Sharon, Ellen, Sunshinecoast/Marg and her hubby Earl, lovethebabies/Darlene, Urbaneagle/Larry and Dawn, Karen and her husband Jeff, Pat (MARS), Jewill/JudyW, Laurie and her daughter Sophie, eaglesonly-emme/Mindy, the wonderfully bubbly Karen Bills and of course, the very charming and entertaining David Hancock and his lovely wife Mary Scott. And finally, who could forget the irrepressible and great tour guide we had in mmud/Scott?! Forgive me if I didn't mention everyone as the memory isn't what it used to be.

Without further ado, we begin....

We started in the Chilliwack area with Scott, our tour guide and local ground observer. He showed us many nests and pairs of Eagles that he keeps tabs on in this area. One nest he did not know about was one at the apex of the Chilliwack and Vedder Rivers. It is located near the RCMP firing range and by an unleashed dog park area. Hence, we started calling it the Dog Park nest.

Where the two rivers meet - the Chilliwack is on the other side of the bridge while the Vedder is on this side. Looks like the same river to me!



One of the Dog Park pair



It looks like the Eagles have some work to do on this nest. It may be a fairly new one.

NESTORATIONS AT THE DOG PARK NEST

And then we saw one of them having some breakfast one morning

BREAKFAST ON THE VEDDER RIVER

One of the videos I did on the rainy days at the flats

EAGLE ACTION AT HARRISON MILLS

And I shot this video of a pair in the Vedder canal. Not my greatest work but it was difficult balancing an umbrella trying to keep the camera dry while zooming in to the camera's limit of 140X.

BATHING BEAUTIES

The sun came out on Thursday Nov. 15. It was beautiful at the golf course. There were not many people there.

The Eagles were trying to dry out after 4 days of steady rain.



This family was on a tree near the Harrison Mills nest cam fairway (did you notice the feather near the top of the tree?).



When the male took off, it shook the branch and the female scolded him as she and one of her juvies tried to keep their balance.



Another of their juvies landed next to her. This video was taken just after Dad left.

SANDPIPER EAGLE FAMILY

Keeping an eye on things



Beautiful juvie in the morning sun



Another juvie



SANDPIPER GOLF COURSE ON A SUNNY DAY

EAGLES ON A SUNNY DAY AT HARRISON MILLS

Trumperter Swans getting agitated at each other (didn't last long)



So many Eagles out there!



Beautiful adult in one of the trees near the airstrip at the Sandpiper Golf course



For some scenery of the area, here is a:

PANORAMA VIEW OF THE HARRISON RIVER

And one of the streams that runs through the golf course:

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT

When we were on the boat tour with David on Saturday, he gave us many tidbits about Eagle behaviour. I shot this video on one of our 2 sunny days.

GLIDING BALD EAGLE

We were told by someone on Thursday to come out early Friday morning as that is when you could see the Eagles feeding. So we did just that.

Waiting for breakfast to be served



Someone already served this juvie!



BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S? NO, AT HARRISON MILLS!

An adult enjoying some Salmon

It was beautiful on the Harrison River that Friday morning.



The fog was just starting to lift



One of the locals showing how to cling to a branch with one talon!



EARLY MORNING AT THE HARRISON FLATS

This tree on the cam fairway was very popular with the Eagles



Closer view of 3 of them



SANDPIPER FAIRWAY EAGLES

David trying to see if the HM nest cam is watching us on our boat tour. He waved from the front of the boat when we got out there but we found out later from Gemini that the camera was not looking that way.



And last, but not least, the reason all of the Eagles, Gulls, Seals etc. are there

SALMON AT FISH HATCHERY

It was a fantastic exhibition of nature at it's finest. Thank you to David Hancock for all you have done to help preserve and protect all of this. And thank you to everyone I met for the enjoyable time together. It is a trip I will do again in the future! :thumrht:

Fanastic pictures Gord! You certainly did get some great shots and some were on sunny days too. If we get there next year we must get up early to find more eagles.
I have to watch more of your videos.

Marg

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