Large images ‹ (July 7, 2012) ‹ PISMENNYI K. 2009 ‹ HoverOverUs • Short-toed-Eagle

09.08 : young Short-toed Eagle has left the nest, but it doesn’t fly yet

09.08 : &#039;&#039;do you still see me ?&#039;&#039;

09.08 : the female has arrived with a Grass Snake in her beak

09.08 : she is seeing the photographer at a distance of 35 m, but has waited for half a minute before getting off the perch

09.08 : this is a male of the same Short-toed Eagles pair circling right after feeding the young

09.08 : his breeding season which started from the beautiful sky dance is approaching to the end for him

09.08 : obliterative colouration makes the young more or less inconspicuous

09.08 : and certainly its shy behaviour helps to stay invisible in crowns of pines

09.08 : flight not high above the ground – the Short-toed Eagle’s feathers are spread as much as possible

16.08 : male of other Short-toed Eagles pair has also noticeably less dark marks on his flanks than the female

16.08 : boohm !!! …but just a minute before that she has banished him from this power line pylon

16.08 : 7 minutes later the male gives her the perch again

04.05 : a feather on a branch under the perch at Short-toed Eagles nesting site in the beginning of the season

24.08 : and the empty nest already with a lot of the young’s down – good sign of the successful breeding

09.05 : the Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis) is numerous though rather small as a good prey for Short-toed Eagles in Kiev Region

the Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca) is too rare here to be caught often by Short-toed Eagles

the Slow Worm (Anguis fragilis) is not too rare in local forests