The Golden Eagle has long been a nemesis species for me. Over the years I’ve had a handful of potentially spectacular opportunities with these birds but something has always gone wrong (two ravens fighting with a Golden Eagle on the ground, close to me and in good light continues to haunt me but I was pulling my camping trailer and there was traffic behind me so I couldn’t stop). I still don’t have the shots of the species I’d like but I’m getting closer.
1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This past winter I encountered this eagle in remote Box Elder County in NW Utah. When this bird took off it partially circled me before it vamoosed and gave me a nice head turn in good light as it did so but it was just a little too far away so I had to crop more than I like.
1/1600, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
As you can see it was working at gaining altitude as it circled.
1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
The eagle banked as it turned to fly off which filled more of the frame so I didn’t have to crop so much. Based on the ventral whites I believe this to be a first year bird but I’m inexperienced at aging Golden Eagles and it may be an older sub-adult.
I generally prefer backgrounds that aren’t plain blue sky and two out of three of these images are significant crops but hey, it’s a Golden Eagle in the wild so I was still pleased to get the shots.
But I’ll continue to look for better opportunities with them, whether I’m pulling the trailer or not…
Ron
Haven’t seen one close enough in flight to get pics. Did get pics while perched high in a tree above old nest a few years ago south of Saratoga Springs. While reviewing them the other day when I zoomed in on the nest, I was shocked to see a small grey fluffy head peeking over the edge.
In Utah that is.
Thank you to everyone for your kind comments on this post, your relevant observations, anecdotes and (Jerry) the confirmation of the age of the bird. Much appreciated, all!
I’m afraid I got into a bit of a time warp today and I just don’t have the opportunity to respond individually to these comments. I do feel badly about that but sometimes there’s just no other choice…
Truly magnificent, beautifully clear photographs, I see the sparkle in his eyes and the smile on his face.
What a magnificent bird, here in Australia we have the wedgetailed eagle, they all have a certain majesty.
These are lovely shots, thank’s for sharing them!
Charlotte
Such majestic, such beauty, such power. Thank you.
I must have tuned in to something once again…happens to me a lot and is always uncomfortable. Golden eagle I told you about this morning , expecting it to be released “soon” was at almost that very moment being set free. How I wish I could have seen it! At least it was done quietly, not on “birds of Prey Day” as once mentioned. With it probably went my last chances to see one ever again. They are extremely rare in this part of the country. Seeing one here at all is a miracle. I wish it luck. Thank god I have your beautiful photos…how do like that for timing!
Happy to hear you nailed your nemesis bird! I love looking at Golden Eagle photos.
And, to add to your query…this bird has just started its second molt (beginning in March or April), so it was a juvenile in 2011, hope this is helpful.
Magnificent – absolutely magnificent!!!
“Golden Eagle”, my heart flipped! So very special to me. It was thru researching eye color changesi n the golden that lead me to you and your photos. Lots of baldies winter on the Hudson now… goldens are a rarity. A few months ago, one literally fell out of the sky onto the roof of my friend’s neighbor’s house. Wounded in a fight over food with the baldies? It ended up with a fractured skull, treated by a vet, and taken to Green Chimneys School (rehabs kids thru animal assisted therapy). They rescue, rehab, care for orphaned, injured, abused wild and domestic animals. Now off limits in the big flight cage, the bird, a juvenile, is well enough for release. I’ve been working on a watercolor of it. Have had to rely on photos from newspaper photog who not only gave me Ok, but sent me several extra pics for reference. Your bird, Wambli Gleska, spotted eagle in Lakota, is also a juvenile…dark eyes, white black-banded tail. I love it!!! How I miss them!!!
Phenomenal Series Ron !
Thank you, Ron, for these great shots of a magnificent bird. Having no chance of seeing Golden Eagles where we live, your beautiful photos are the next best thing.