Lake Umbagog.
1896
June 1
[June 1, 1896]

Leonard's Pond

  A clearing day with frequent showers accompanied by violent squalls
from the north-west and many intervals of bright sunshine.

Bald Eagle catches a large Sucker

  We breakfasted at 5.30 this morning and immediately afterwards
started for Leonard's Pond, Watrous in the small rowing boat, I in
the new sailing canoe. On reaching the southern outlet of the pond
I put up my tripod in the hope of getting a photograph of
a large brown Eagle which was sitting erect clearly outlined
against the sky on one of the lateral branches of the tall
dead pine on which these birds perch so frequently. But before
I could get the camera adjusted the Eagle spread his great
wings and stood for a moment looking intently in my direction.
I supposed, of course, that I had excited his suspicions.
but when he took flight the next instant he came
nearly towards me passing me within 40 yards and gliding on set wings
down a long, gentle incline to the surface of the pond on
reaching which he dropped his legs and plunged both feet into
the water. This motion, as well as the flight from the pine,
was performed in so very leisurely a manner that I thought
for the moment that he had stooped at a dead fish
floating on the surface but just after he had drawn up
his feet empty and passed a few yards further on a large
Sucker threw himself nearly clear of the surface at 
the exact spot where the Eagle had struck. Instantly
the great bird wheeled & came back; once more he dropped
his legs and this time drew out the Sucker writhing
hopelessly in the strong talons. The bird's feet were scarcely
submerged so easily was the thing done. He flew off with
the fish held beneath him at the full length of his legs, just as
an Osprey does, & taking it to a pine began at once to eat
it.