Saw One of These the Other Day

Roaming the backroads of Arkansas, I happened across one of these guys a few days back. I had just crossed the Arkansas River in Johnson County and was taking a county road shortcut running parallel to the river – just a few hundred yards from the river bluff.  The individual I saw was dining on a skunk at the roadside – he took flight as I got closer and, good lord what a huge bird!  I’m guessing he (or she) had a wingspan of about six feet.  I knew right away it wasn’t a hawk of any kind – too big.  I thought it might have been a golden eagle and looking it up confirmed it.  It’s the first time I’ve ever encountered one of these.  Arkansas isn’t really considered part of their range, but they have been observed wintering here.