June 6, 2009

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I walked north from Agate Beach Wayside (towards Lucky Gap access/Yaquina Head). When I was approximately level with (or across the width of the beach from) the Little Creek Cove condo development, I saw two American eagles scavenging something dead (dead gull/shore bird, I think) on the beach. As I got closer (never got particularly close), one tried to grab the carcass in its beak & fly off w/it. Got about 1' off the ground before it dropped the carcass. It flew north further down the beach, the other continued to sit/stand on the beach until I got a little closer--I was trying to walk by it & keep a reasonable distance away to minimize disturbance--and then it flew just a little way south on the beach (accompanied by a crow) & I think flew back to the carcass once I'd passed.There was also a vulture flying over the beach east & south (closer to the western Wayside parking lot). I don't think I've ever been so close to eagles before. Observation time is approximate, I observed the birds some time between 11am & noon. I walked back along the creek so wasn't close enough again to carcass to see if the eagles returned to it. Mile 218 is not my mile, however, I walk on the beach between Lucky Gap & Jump off Joe fairly often (217, 218).