Today J and I returned from a drive around to the heads. The weather has been overcast with lightening scattered about Jervis Bay however, mother nature was kind enough to put a hold on the rain. The lightening was spectacular in the distance and as we drove around some back roads in the area we were able to see a few Black Cockatoos and other wildlife. We drove up a road that runs parallel with the entry to the bay and stopped to watch a White Bellied Sea Eagle. I think we were both surprised that we ventured upon it without actually seeking one out. Of course we stopped to snap a few pictures however, with the lightening constantly in the sky I found it difficult to achieve what I wanted. Eventually I snapped a few shots using the 300mm but instinctively knew that I would be disappointed with the results. Some photos simply do not do justice to the subject.
A White Bellied Sea Eagle is completely white except for some dark grey areas on it’s back and wings. In flight these dark grey feathers on the wings spread and remain still (from what we could see) as they are easily viewed from below. It had a large hooked bill but most intriguing was it’s talons, which appeared huge. The sea eagle is a bird of prey hence, the talons. Whilst flying it simply soared through the air and we were both amazed at the span of it’s wings, which must have been about a metre wide. There was very little movement of its wings, as though it were comfortable simply floating on top of the air currents. Every now and then the sea eagle would dive to catch something down in the water and rise back up to its floating spot in the air. It is hard to believe that such majestic birds were once hunted down as trophies.