Xref: utzoo rec.aviation:28723 rec.birds:2874
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!decwrl!sun-barr!newstop!sun!concertina.Eng.Sun.COM!fiddler
From: fiddler@concertina.Eng.Sun.COM (Steve Hix)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation,rec.birds
Subject: Re: The most competent soaring pilots are...
Message-ID: <142587@sun.Eng.Sun.COM>
Date: 17 Sep 90 19:43:37 GMT
References: <1990Sep11.125658@unify.com> <933@jli.UUCP> <1990Sep14.171720@unify.com>
Sender: news@sun.Eng.Sun.COM
Lines: 32

In article <1990Sep14.171720@unify.com>, raveling@unify.com (Paul Raveling) writes:
> In article <933@jli.UUCP>, andy@jli.UUCP (Andy Johnson-Laird) writes:
> > In article <1990Sep11.125658@unify.com> raveling@unify.com (Paul
> Raveling) writes:
> 
> > When I got to about 3,700 agl I suddenly noticed I was not alone.
> > There was what we Brits call, a "bloody great bird" in the thermal with me.
> > I would estimate a wing span of at least 6 feet (though it's difficult
> to get scale at times like this). I remember noting the underside of the
> bird had lots of white dappling. I also noticed that this BGB (BG bird)
> was holding....wait for it.... a large *fish* in it's talons. 
> 
> 	6 feet wingspread + fish sounds like a golden eagle.  I'm not
> 	sure about white dappling on the underside though; anyone know
> 	if that's a sign of a young golden eagle?  Or do osprey get that
> 	large?

You Golden eagles have some light marking on their undersides, mostly
around the "armpits".  Ospreys tend to be lighter-colored, with a wing
span approaching 6 feet.  (They also tend to hold their wings with a
distinctive "crank" about mid-span...looks like it's bent back a bit.)

Young Bald eagles look quite a bit like golden eagles, but their feet
are clear of feathers, while the golden eagle's feather come down the 
leg nearly to the foot.  Both eagles wingspan's are comfortable over
6 feet...not a condor's 11', but pretty big.

--
------------
  The only drawback with morning is that it comes 
    at such an inconvenient time of day.
------------