Where is the Best Place to Eagle Watch

The forecast was for 50 degree weather.  The latest news story said that an estimated 167 eagles were in the area.  This area is supposed to be the best place to see wintering Bald Eagles in the US outside of  Alaska. So it was with great expectation that we left for the Great River Road near Grafton, Illinois to eagle-watch.

We were not alone!  As soon as we left Alton, Illinois, heading north the first cars were pulled over to get a better look at eagles on the ice in the Mississippi River.  I was amazed at the amount of ice on the river and the back up of barges apparently waiting to get through the locks.

We pulled over many times to get a closer look ourselves.  My iphone does not give an accurate picture of what I saw through binoculars, but we quickly had the search image in our minds.  We could tell the buoys (which were dark but much larger), from the chunks of wood (which were dark but didn't move) and could identify eagles (dark spots on the ice).
Here is a view through the iphone:

There is an eagle in this picture.  Can you spot it?  There were also eagles flying on the thermals against the bluffs and perched in trees across the river.  In all, in the nearly 20 mile stretch of river from Alton, Illinois to Pere Marquette State Park, we counted 81 eagles....an awesome sight.  Seeing one of these majestic birds is an awesome experience, but 81 is an experience of a lifetime.  I have never seen so many of these birds in one place.

This image is from the IDNR web site for Pere Marquette State Park:
 

To top off the experience, we decided to hike some trails at Pere Marquette State Park.  We stayed on the bluff trails along the river and were treated to an eagle flying right in front of us just above the trees.  It was also fun to explore the large tree stumps or climb the rocks.  After the many days of winter snow and cold, it felt like spring to be out on this day and I felt like a kid. What an awesome day.

Where is the best place to see eagles in the continental US?
For me, The Great River Road, in January!  I will visit again next year when the winter blues hit.