The Mono Basin was dappled in coats of snow and low clouds this Thanksgiving morning, and my thoughts were on turkeys and potatoes and friends. I was jarred out of all other thoughts when I gazed out onto Grant Lake Reservoir and saw an adult Bald Eagle thrashing around far out in the freezing waters.

Bald Eagle, Grant Lake, Thanksgiving. Photo by Justin Hite.

For the next twenty minutes I watched it slowly make its way shoreward with great swooping wing strokes in the water, a handful of eager Ravens waiting for its arrival on the nearby shore. It stepped onto the shore, gave a wild shivering shake, and immediately began fending off the charging swarm of Ravens that wanted the giant trout in its talons. The eagle won the skirmish, and quickly settled down to eat its well-deserved Thanksgiving trout. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 27th, 2008 at 5:55 pm and is filed under Birds, News. You can view No Responses on this post or leave your own response if you log in.