Thanks for the insight.  I too thought immediately that this was a bald eagle, the more common bird, but the clear white on the base of the top side of the tail, was what threw me into thinking differently. I saw only the top side of the bird's wings and tail, and never the underside which is not typically how I see raptors! I agree that the white patches on the underside of the golden eagle are a strong field mark, but the top side of the wing appears to be much darker without the white, particularly on a second year bird. Every bald eagle I have seen has had much more white on the wings and body throughout than this. This bird still has an all dark head and the only white on it was the base of the tail. 

The flight style was a glide with no to little flapping. The wind was blowing pretty good out here, and the bird did not have to work very hard. It was almost like it was hunting over the houses and fields below. This bird almost seemed more "composed", leisurely gliding along, pausing on the wind, and then moving slowly east.  

Thanks for all the input on this.  I have seen golden's out west, just not as often as I would like. 

Chris

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