Date: 3/28/26 4:27 am From: Alvaro Jaramillo via groups.io <chucao...> Subject: Re: [northbaybirds] imm. White-tailed Eagle
Dan
I get to see a lot of White-tailed Eagles in Japan every winter. Your description actually does not sound like one. Juvenile and young White-tails have substantial white on the tail, they also look super mottled below. They also show pale on the underwings, in the wingpit like a Bald Eagle. I don’t know what you saw, but it does not sound like a White-tailed.
From: <northbaybirds...> <northbaybirds...> On Behalf Of Dan Nelson via groups.io
Sent: Saturday, March 28, 2026 2:59 AM
To: <northbaybirds...>
Subject: [northbaybirds] imm. White-tailed Eagle
Birders,
Today March 27 at 5:30pm while walking Limantour Beach, and standing near the 'main' beach access I was looking West and noticed a large raptor flying toward me, as if it had flown directly over water from the Fish Docks area to the W. on Outer Point Reyes. It flew directly overhead crossing the beach area and continuing E. toward Inverness Ridge. Flapping steadily and constant, only once circling over the park residence E. of the beach. In recent years, it's not uncommon to witness the local-breeding pair of Bald Eagles fly out over the ocean to rob Ospreys of their catch, returning over the beach on a similar flight trajectory. But I was surprised to see (through the bins) that this bird was mostly dark, with NO obvious white head/tail, or any whitish found on the body or wing linings as a typical young Bald Eagle would have. But....interestingly before I raised the bins, I was puzzled by the size, thinking (hahaha) Common Raven- due to a noticeably wedge-shaped tail. "Well since it's obviously NOT a BALD Eagle, it's a Golden Eagle right?" My thoughts at the time. But it just didn't look like any Golden I've ever seen. The body seemed darker than the browns I expect on a typical Golden. While the body/underwings were fairly uniform with minimal "mottling" I noticed, for sure, that the tail, and only the tail (underside is all I could see) was a shade lighter and "creamier" than the rest of the body. That was when I ruled out Bald and Golden and concluded I was looking at my first White-tailed Eagle. Unfortunately no photos. Seemed headed for Tomales Bay, maybe Bolinas or South. Hopefully others may get on this special bird. - Dan Nelson, Petaluma
