I briefly stopped by the Wilds (DeLorme 70 B4) today on my way home from
Holmes County to see if the numerous waters were open yet from the deep
freeze this winter.  They were not, still completely frozen over and now
they had some snow on them.  I took SR 83 from I-70 and went through
Cumberland to reach this area - I usually am coming from the South via SR
284.  Anyhow, immediately upon getting on Zion Ridge Road from SR 146, I had
an adult Golden Eagle flying around very close to the ground taking
advantage of the high winds to hover around and hunt.  In two years of
visiting the Wilds, this was the closest I have viewed this Golden Eagle
there.  Some field notes that I observed were its massive and bulky
feet/talons and also its size.  This Golden Eagle was gigantic. The golden
nape was very visible as were golden bars on top of its wings (secondary
coverts).  It was missing a primary feather, making this bird distinctive -
so if anyone sees an adult Golden Eagle there anytime soon that has all its
primaries, this means that there may have been three Goldens there this
winter.  Al Parker had one immature and one adult bird there on Feb. 10.  I
saw the Golden Eagle around 5:30 PM.

Other birds:

Rough-legged Hawks - 2
Harriers - 5
Song Sparrow - 2
Mallard - 2

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