Washington, DCWe saw a bald eagle this morning on the east side of Hains Point (East Potomac Park) in DC, in a tree near the entrance to the golf course. It flew over the river to the Boling Air Force base.
Vanessa Burrows
1/16/2012 DC I think we may have seen two bald eagles flying low on the National Mall, near the Air andSpace museum and the National Gallery. Very exciting considering it was MLK Day!
M. Purple
Washington, DC area: Around 11am on Jan. 12, 2012, while traveling along the George Washington Parkway, north of Key Bridge, I saw what appeared to be two bald eagles perched in a tree top facing the Potomac River.
Joanne M.Martin
5 Jan 2012 Washington DC: I saw a beautiful bald eagle this morning on my drive to work. It had just landed in a tree on the river side of the 295 (Anacostia Freeway) just south of the Naval Research Lab. Makes for an awesome day!!!
Nicole Thomas
2011
At the National Mall area during the Martin Luther King, Jr statue dedication on this beautiful October 16th morning at approx 9 am, along the Potomac River, a beautiful female bald eagle was soaring over the water and she made a turn towards the statue and flew over the crowds — I know MLK, Jr was looking down — it was a beautiful symbol of peace!
Eva L Wegmann
It's February 16, 2011, and on my morning commute I saw a bald eagle sitting in a tree on the water side of the George Washington Parkway – approximately 1/2 mile before the Key Bridge (if you are heading into DC). I sit in 5 miles of crawling traffic every morning on this piece of Parkway – it's nice to know that now I will have something to look forward to every morning! This must be the eagle that others have seen soaring around the Key Bridge!
Gina Marie Goula
Just spotted an adult male bald eagle circling over the George Washington memorial parkway right next to the CIA. This was my first sighting this year.
I live on the Potomac just outside of DC (near Chain Bridge.) Last year seeing bald eagles was almost a regular occurrence with at least a dozen sightings, most between Georgetown University and Georgetown, but also circling above Chain Bridge.
This was the farthest west I've seen the eagle. There must be at least a dozen individuals living around dc now.
Adam freedman
I've seen two bald eagles in and around DC. The first was maybe a year ago, while I was on a metro train on a raised platform just outside of the armory metro stop. It was flying over the Langston golf course. The other was on 11/27/10 and it flew over head as I was walking to work in Capitol Heights, MD. It was magnificent.
Ed Simms
I just had one of the most amazing wildlife experiences in DC. I've lived here in the DC area for 10 years and while driving over the Key Bridge from Northern Virginia into DC on December 15th, 2010, I saw a Bald Eagle fly over the bridge, being chased/pursued by a much smaller bird (not identified). I am from rural Western Massachusetts and on numerous occassions have seen a similar display when a bird of prey tries to attack a nest of a smaller bird. But seeing this happen in DC, right above my car, and with a Bald Eagle was just outstanding!! The birds were flying north, up the river. I doubted that it was a Bald Eagle, but after checking your website, I read about a other similar incidents in the same location so I am ecstatic to have been able to experience a similar sighting! I have also been fortunate to see Bald Eagles on numerous occassions on Squam Lake in New Hampshire and once on Somerset Lake in Western Massachusetts, but this DC experience was just extraordinary!
Thanks for compiling these accounts and experiences!
Cytandra G. Hoover
Washington, DC
I have been truly blessed to have seen a bald eagle on two separate occasions over the last month. On November 20, a bald eagle flew over a "Thanksgiving with the Turkeys" event at Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary near the Delaware River in Poolesville, MD. My son (age 6) actually pointed it out to us and it flew right over our heads and was simply magnificent.
We then were driving from Northern Virginia into DC on 8 December and saw another from the car flying over the river near the Kennedy Center. Of course, we again did a double take, but what a treat!
It seems to my family that all of the efforts to help bald eagles are making a difference.
Amy Sharp
Saw a bald eagle perched on a tree at Hains Point in Washington DC on Sunday 11/21/10.
Greg Beronja
While sculling on the Anacostia River in Washington DC at 8am on November 13, 2010 I spotted a bald eagle perched in a tree near the wooden bridge on the Langston Golf course. What a spectacular sight - surrounded by fall color and steam rising from the river.
Amy Drew
In October 2010 I was looking out the window in my office in the DuPont Circle area and couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw an eagle circling about 15 stories high above our courtyard. I watched it for a few minutes until it moved on. My office is on about 4 blocks north of the White House and close to Rock Creek Park, where I assume it lives.
Sean McAllister
February 16, 2010 around 4:00pm - I was driving my friends from California, Samantha and Jamie to the Smithsonian museum. As we crossed the short bridge on Independence Ave at the Tidal Basin near the Jefferson Memorial, Samantha shouted: "A Bald Eagle"! Sure enough, we looked to our right and there on the frozen surface of the Tidal Basin was our majestic national symbol. It appeared to be pecking through the ice. Oh, how we would have loved to stop in the middle of traffic to take a closer view and a few photos. It was a mere 20 yards away. I have never seen one before outside of video and It was a sight none of us will ever forget. Breathtaking!
Cyrus Carter
On Feb. 7th I was sitting on the Key Bridge heading in to Washington DC and I saw a beautiful Bald Eagle flying along the Potomac heading from Maryland into DC. It was pretty high up but you could tell it was an eagle because its head was bright white and its body was dark.
Diane Mentzer
I sighted two bald eagles while bicycling near Hains Point in East Potomac Park in Washington, D.C.
Thomas Mann
I work near Bolling AFB in Congress Heights, Southeast Washington, DC. Since last year, I have seen bald eagles numerous times.
In December, 2007, I had my first sighting. I was on the sidewalk in front of my workplace, and a bald eagle in juvenile plumage swooped over my head. I saw that eagle fly straight towards me and he/she pulled up and passed over my head by about three feet. I was spellbound, and it took me a few moments to process what I had just seen.
I have seen eagles flying over the ramp to 395 a few times, and I once saw one fly right past my car as I was driving over the American Legion Bridge into Virginia carrying a fish in its talons. Another time, my truck was stalled on 295 south right in front of the Naval Station, and as I was waiting for assistance, I saw a pair in adult plumage flying overhead. My most recent sighting was January 13, 2009, and I saw an eagle make two passes by my window during the late afternoon/early evening hours.
I feel like I am blessed by my Creator.
Toni Dorvitt
2/15/08
While taking a stroll up the Washington Channel from my office in Fort McNair this afternoon at about 1300, I noticed a large black object with a white top sitting on one of the branches of one of the trees near the National War College. As I drew nearer, I realized that it was a bald eagle, probably standing a little over three feet high. Eying me, the bird grew nervous and flew down towards the officer's club were it perched on top of another tree and was promptly heckled by a group of crows. I slowly walked up so as not to frighten it. Then, when I was about ten yards away, another bald eagle swooped up to the tree and the first bird flew off. They both looked to be about the same size. After a minute or so, the second eagle grew tired of my voyeurism and the crows taunts and swooped passed me up to the War College, where it perched on top of the dome. What symbolism! It was quite a magnificent sight to see this huge bird fly right passed me. I hope the happy couple has a long and happy lifetime together along our local waterway.
David Goldman
I was visiting Washington DC from Alaska and was stunned to see what looked like a bald eagle flying over Roosevelt Island at 2pm today (2/9/2008). I had no idea there were bald eagles in DC so I thought I was mistaken. I'm glad to see I am not - they are definitely here.
- Brian Perlis
I saw a pair of Bald Eagles at the south end of National Airport on Tuesday 1/15/2008 at about 1:00pm. They took off from somewhere near the rivers edge and flew out over the railroad towards Potomac Yards. The sighting was very spectacular, I was riding my bike and stopped hoping they would loop back towards the river but they continued south and I didn't have time to trail after them.
Kane Davidson
I observed two bald eagles flying over St. Anne's Catholic Church in
the Tenleytown area on Saturday afternoon, 1/12/08, at about 3:15 pm.
Both were at fairly low altitude, enough to clear identify them. One
passed over the church and was followed by another about 4 seconds
later. I would estimate their height at about 100 feet. I had seen
only one other in the area of Route 29 near the Patuxent River in
2007. What a treat to have our national bird in Washington!
J. Hippert
I saw the two Roosevelt Island bald eagles @ 8:40 a.m. on 12/04/2007, circling above the Roosevelt Island bridge. I’ve seen one (same approximate time, same location) on several occasions. This was my first time seeing the pair.
Raymond Henderson
On 11/04/2007 I was visiting two friends who live on the 10th floor of
an apartment complex in Rossyln, VA overlooking the Potomac and Teddy
Roosevelt Isalnd. While staring out the incredible view of the
monuments we noticed two large birds flying towards us, as they
approaced we realized that these were two bald eagles, flying side by
side and right past the wall of windows in the apartment. It was an
unreal experience.
Sushmita Srikanth
Monday afternoon while at work, 10/29/2007, I saw a young bald eagle at the McMillan water treatment facility, located between Howard University and Children's Hospital in N.E. Washington, D.C. I believe there is a nest in the tall trees behind Annex 8 (the location of the asphalt lab for the DC dept. of Transportation) and Bryant St. This historic area is the site where, in 1808, water was collected and gravity fed to the White House.
The bald eagle sat on the roof of the lab for about one minute. Then, it soared towards another type of black bird flying close to the water as if to chase away that bird. The bald eagle then flew over to a nearby fence and perched on top of the highest part of that fence. That was a beautiful sight to behold.
Michael Alan Schneider
My daughter and I saw a Bald Eagle over Roosevelt Island on 10/27/07. He soared over the Island for about 10 minutes before heading south down the Potomac.
Last week (10/21/07) we saw two Eagles while boating on the Potomac. The first was at Possum Point and the second was over Belmont Bay (at the Occoquan and Potomac). Three in one week-amazing!
Angela Thornton
I know that this is hard to believe but I could have sworn I saw a bald eagle today (Saturday Oct 13)
around 2:30-2:45 pm on the south side of the old
executive office building. Sadly, I dont have a
camera on my cell phone so I couldnt capture the
moment. Did any one else see it, or was it my
imagination?
Max Bernstein in D.C.
I know Bald Eagle sightings are getting more common up and down the Potomac, but this one was several blocks from the river. As I walked out of my Washington D.C office today (5:00 pm 2/27/07) I saw one flying around the buildings clutching a fish in its talons. It almost looked as if was looking for a place to land and eat.
My exact location was the L'Enfant Metro Subway station at 7th and Maryland Ave SW. At one point he flew toward Independence Ave with the Native American Museum and U.S Capitol in the background. Oh if I had a camera!
Mark Boyd
Just saw one yesterday 1/25/07 around 5pm, flying over the Key Bridge while commuting home to D.C.. Pretty spectacular!
Melissa Dabkowski
Today, 12/2/06
I saw what looked to be a Bald Eagle over Teddy Roosevelt Island in
Washington, D.C. I am not a bird expert, and I am some several
hundred yards distant, but I saw a bird with a white head, white
tail, and a long, dark wingspan circling over the island. So
exciting to see these birds in our nation's capital!
Justin Kane Reed
Friday, March 31st 2006: Two Bald Eagles on SE tip of Roosevelt Island
Wed, April 5, 2006: Single Bald Eagle directly overhead while driving on Key Bridge
Courtesy of Robert L. L. Weismantel
At 5:30 pm on Saturday March 4, my wife and I spotted a Bald Eagle on the
Potomac river by the Reagan National Airport. We saw several Blue Herons,
as we frequently do, and then we watched a Bald Eagle swoop down and snatch
a fish from the water. Seeing the bird in full wing span amidst several
seaguls really put its size in perspective. What a magnificent creature!
Courtesy of Dan Langberg
March 1, 2006, this morning on my way to work the commuter bus decided to drive through anacostia park on the Anacostia River by the Fredrick Douglas Bridge, and I saw a Bald Eagle flying up the shore line. White head and tail! What a great site an eagle inside Washington City limits. Courtesy of Steven Baird
I just saw two bald eagles gliding outside my 7th floor window, just off Roosevelt Island in DC. Looks like they are making a comeback all up and down the Potomac. Courtesy of Pete Vanden Bosch
I saw a bald eagle hunting and resting at Haines Point golf course in DC. It was soaring around looking for squirrels, birds, and maybe foxes. Then it came right over at sat in the trees above the 4th green. It was great. Courtesy of Peter B. Paris
This morning (3/18/2004) a bald eagle flew over Chain Bridge on the Potomac River in Washington, DC! I was on my way to work, sitting in traffic on the bridge. Usually, I'm checking out the Great Blue Herons, but this big bird flew over the bridge, and well, that was no heron. It had a bright white head, curved beak and white tail feathers. Courtesy of Melanie Bernstein |