Steller's Sea-Eagle update

[Alvan Buckley]

It has been seen almost daily since mid June in Spaniard's Cove (just South of Trinity). Today, for the first time that I'm aware, it was observed at a nest site and moving sticks around!

https://ebird.org/checklist/S144351622

Some birders have tried aging this bird and the best guess seems to be that it is in its 5th calendar year of life (hatched in 2019). If that's the case, it may make sense that it is checking out nesting sites now ... ahead of 2024! Interestingly, there is a record of a Steller's Sea-eagle mating with a Bald Eagle in Alaska in 2004:
https://www.aba.org/birding_archive_files/v40n4p28.pdf

Only time will tell what will happen with this individual but this may only just be the start!

We are very fortunate to have this bird choose Newfoundland as its summer home. I've heard mostly positive things about the visitors and tour operators going to Spaniard's Cove and I hope that continues! It's very exciting to dream that it might try to breed here which may tempt individuals to get the "best" shot and do something foolish.

Hopefully it chooses a high and steep cliff :)

AB

[Vernon Buckle]

I feel that the continued presence of the STSE at Trinity has been a boon for Newfoundland birding in general, with what seems to be a daily group of out-of-province birders. Interestingly too is that the bird couldn’t have chosen a better location, practically cut off from any ease of access, and agreed, likely limiting harassment from nut jobs.

Potential future breeding seems exciting…🙏🏻 I think the STSE saga is here for a while!

Vernon

[Martin Berrigan]

Well I have no want for a stellar picture but I'm a hiker and no want to be at sea,so I'm going on a proper hike to a point I picked myself just gonna hike and cross finger's that I get a glimpse which will be enough for me.Heading out the weekend and will do two hikes,should be fun,needle in a hay stack,a sighting with binoc's at 500 yards and I'm happy,they say the locals that it is the worse place for a boat to go ashore because there is no where out of there with the high cliffs,who knows but whatever they say I'll never say haha,wish me luck!.Gerard

[ilwi...@gmail.com]

On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 11:08:33 PM UTC-2:30, Vernon Buckle wrote:

Hi Is there potential for the Steller's to breed with a Bald?

[Martin Berrigan]

I did a trip to Trinity and set a camp site close to Old Bonaventure,Both Trouty and Old Bonaventure are the closest to what they call Ray Rock Cove,it appear's the Trinity lot call it Ragged Rock Cove but to the locals who are at the fingertip's of this stretch of coast-line they call it Ray Rock Cove.This is the Disney Land for American Bald eagles,here's a hint lighting is terrible late day to hunt for the Steller's but when your with a buddy in a boat that knows that coast-line like learning the ABC in kindergarden well you adapt.With two French friends and a buddy I gave my binoc's to Marjulaine,I was camera Man,not at one time did we say oh,there it is!,we have it but to my utter dismay and pure bad luck as I took pictures of all the birds I did indeed picture the Stellar's just a thousand meter's South of Ray Rock cove,there is a pair of juvies at a nest site about 2/3rds up the cliff side but they have quite a base up there and one not not really quantify a nest there but these juvies had not fledged yet,every age I seen and one really ragged three year old and two nice 4 year olds and possibly 20 mature and a lot of young eagles.In my picture I have the Stellar's lower mid cliff with a Mature Bald eagle above him up the rock cliff,there really is a difference in size ,I should have been doing Binoc's and not pictures,what a learning curve forget the camera's,use binoc's find him then picture.I did go up the Mountain in Old Bonaventure right to a high high ridge,saw the two ponds and huge base of rock to encircle the ponds and complete hard hiking to make it to Ray Rock cove but that will happen but with a buddy as we'll spend a night on top of the ridge for a day and a half and head her back.It was Sunday 16th one K South of Ray Rock or Ragged same thing,hollows in the cliff side cut in are dark,the Stellar's was on a ridge just big enough for the Sea eagle the darkness of his plumage was pure camouflage with the hollow cuts but those full white shoulder's and massive beak with a very big big stomach almost like a potbelly on your Grand-father and it was if his big body in that area was somewhat resting on his claws that are very pronounced in the forefront and also way way bigger then the claws of an American Bald eagle.Thanks for the info. concerning the hybrid in Alaska.I believe fully that the Stellar's may try to breed with an American counter-part next year but it may become the most dangerous time for the Steller's,an American is smaller and more agile as all smaller birds are and even thou bigger there may be some super angry aggressive mature bald eagles if the Stellar's attempts to move in on a nest that the bird is not welcome in,of course due to continous year's on this majestic Disney land of Bald eagles that the Steller has spent here those issues may have already been resolved but birds especially eagles and raptors kill each other for the right to breed,it won't be a relaxed picnic for the Steller's but to make it to the age of a breeder shows great resilience but next year will show what this bird is really made of.Got a picture,saw a bird and pictured everyone I saw but really,I got a picture but we did not identify the Stellar's,a rookie for life. Every mountain me and my buddy hiked down Harbour Breton way small Gun Hill,Iron Skull 1129 feet above sea level,Old Bonaventure about 800 feet high actually less I think it'll take me 1000 feet high but I may have only been 750 on the ridge I was on was full of the song of Hermit Thrushes and both South in Harbour Breton and Musgrave Harbour way and Trinity at parks would have White-throated singing they're different song now,never heard the original from just a decade back and Foxy Tom's singin a storm in every park.Gerard