I can seldom get close to any of the Bald Eagles in or near Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge but I think I surprised this one as I rounded a bend in the dirt road just minutes after sunrise ten days ago. Bald Eagles breed on the refuge but their nests are generally in remote areas so you have to be lucky to get anywhere near them. This one was perched in a conifer next to the South Road that is the primary access road to the refuge. I was delighted to be so close to the bird and pleasantly surprised that it didn’t fly off as I approached (still on the road and in my pickup of course).
1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
The bird looks to be a little grumpy but if so I don’t think it was our presence that was the cause. It was more likely…
1/800, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
the persistent Black-billed Magpie that had been buzzing the hapless eagle and crawling around in the tree next to it for several minutes as we watched and photographed.
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon 100-400 @ 260mm, not baited, set up or called in
We photographed the eagle for a few minutes and then decided to go on down the road and look for other birds but doing so put us closer to the perch-tree as we very slowly passed it. The eagle put its wings up and held this approximate position for perhaps 10 seconds so I couldn’t resist stopping again to photograph the interesting pose and possible take-off. Holding this pose for so long was a behavior that was new to me for this species.
1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon 100-400 @ 260mm, not baited, set up or called in
By the time the bird launched I had switched to my shorter zoom lens…
1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon 100-400 @ 260mm, not baited, set up or called in
so I was able to get several take-off shots without clipping any body parts.
I often photograph Bald Eagles in Utah during winter but for me those images have a different and perhaps less desirable mood because they’re often taken near urban environments and for me they don’t convey the feeling of wildness that I so love about the Centennial Valley. And I very seldom get anything “green” in my Utah Bald Eagle images taken in winter.
1/125, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 40D, Canon 17-85 @ 17mm
This image should give you a feeling for what I’m talking about. It was taken as we left camp (on the morning before we encountered the eagle) just as the sun was coming up in the east over the Greater Yellowstone area. The South Road hugs the base of the mountains in the background and we photographed the eagle not too far out of frame to the right. The majority of the huge Centennial Valley extends almost 30 miles to the right (west) and you’re looking at the western boundary of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in the foreground of this image.
The Centennial Valley is my nirvana. It keeps me (relatively) sane.
Ron
I’m marveling at these shots, particularly the second with those two very “contrasty” subjects. How the heck did you get the magpie so cleanly?
The raised wings make me think of some of the bird/mammal encounters we see. We have a feeder (to help replace some of the food sources lost to development). The chipmunks , a few of the squirrels, and “The Mean Mourning Dove”” seem to think they own us. The Mean Mourning Dove, and some of the other birds, will raise their wings threateningly like that,especially when the chipmunks and other birds come around. Do they think it makes them look bigger and badder??? I wonder if that’s what the eagle was doing……
Could be, Patty. I don’t just don’t know for sure.
THANKS, Ron–some of the things I miss most is the “silence” of my wilderness “cathedral”– sweet “silence” broken only by sounds of wind,water,the cry of a hawk, the song of birds , the sqeak of branches rubbing together, and other non-man sounds, (all of which were like music to me)…also, since I usually tented, and slept on the ground, the hum of the earth under my ear at night (never have figured our what made it…underground water?), and the smells–of sun-warmed pond water, icy cold streams, warm earth, mud, moss, moist duff, the pungent smells of sage, creosote bush, pines, hot rocks, dew-soaked anything, crushed ferns and grasses, and the ultimate perfume, the smell of a horse…. Sometimes, when I look at your images, I can ALMOST hear, see, smell these things again and imagine myself transported to where they are. I can almost smell the waterproofing of my nylon tent in the morning sun, and feel the comforting warmth of my wolf-dog best buddy pressed up agaist me, chuffing in my ear…..Thank god my memories and imagination still function…thank god I got to do those things! Enjoy them to the max while you can…don’t et ANYTHING get in the way!!! Just go for it every time you can…..
I wish I could include those smells in an electronic “scratch and sniff” along with the link to my posts I send you each morning, Patty. I’m not as fond as you are of the horse smells (though I don’t mind them) but I recognize and love most of the others you’ve mentioned. I’ve seen research that indicates that our memories of smells are more ingrained in our brains than those of any other sense – your comment seems to reinforce that.
One of my favorite smells is sage – especially when it’s wet…
Okay, I know I’m silly, but I see the raised wings and think of that old fisherman’s joke, “It was this..no this…no THIS far away from the boat.”
That’s not silly, it’s exactly right!!
Could be, Arwen. This mature Bald Eagle was certainly an “old fisherman”…
The early Ron captures the bird. Brilliantly.
How fascinating to learn that ‘your’ magpies also punch well above their weight in the feistiness stakes.
Love the image of your nirvana. How could it not be? And anything which keeps us sane(ish) is a boon.
Love those photos! The one with the magpie is very interesting. Did you see whether or not he had a nest in the tree where the eagle was? The other morning while out walking my dog I watched a magpie chase a red tail hawk relentlessly. With my camera at home when I’m on dog duty all I could do was stare and enjoy. Your photos and comments fill me with joy and awe. Thank you!
No, I couldn’t tell if there was a magpie nest in that tree, Jane – it was so big and thick that I couldn’t see into it. But I’m certain there was no eagle nest there. Thanks very much.
Great images as usual, love them all. I’ve never been to Utah, being I’m in Maryland but you sure make me
want to go !! 🙂
Thank you, Bill.
I love your Nirvana picture. So incredible. Nothing like that in my area!! I especially love the wings up photo. think he was warning you or the magpie. All great shots.
I wondered if that might be a threat or warning display, Ellen but I’d never seen it before from a Bald Eagle.
WOW!!! These are WONDERFUL! Love the one with the pesky Magpie…so unusual to get both like that….I know what you mean by your Nirvana and keeping sane…several places have done that for me in the past…the Rockies, Arizona desert, the Adirondacks, the back of a horse…none of them available to me now…and I’m paying the price. Your photos, observations, comments and kindness help more than you know. Thanks once again….
I wish you could still get out like you used to Patty but I’m delighted to know that my images and descriptions allow you some vicarious pleasures. Thank you.
Patty, I’m really sorry you can’t get out to your Nirvana places any more. You make me realize how lucky I am that I can still get to mine, and the best part is that we have a wonderful one just 25 miles from our house – the state park we volunteer at, which is an oasis in the Chihuahuan desert. Very different from your Arizona desert (no Saguaros), but still very interesting. Whether we can get out or not, we are all blessed by the opportunity to travel vicariously with Ron.
Wonderful series of photos. It is always wonderful to see Bald Eagles up close, but especially so when you can watch interesting behavior.
Thank you, Susan.
Ron, a sacred place. Thanks for the image
Yes, it is, Diana. You’re very welcome.
Oh my! What fantastic shots Ron, thanks so much for sharing! Breathtakingly beautiful place.
Charlotte
I’m glad you like them, Charlotte. Thanks.
Wow – magnificent! Now what can I do today to bring that glorious energy forward into my life? You’ve set me quite the challenge, Ron!
I hope you meet the challenge, Alison. And exceed it…
I can never see too many images of eagles … Ron your buddy here is glorious!!
Thank you, Lois.
Great series Ron! Very lucky to have him sit still- perfect perch- unobstructed. Getting the Maggie in flight with the Eagle was a Big Bonus! Well Done my Friend!
Thanks very much, Bob – yes, I was pleased to get the magpie in flight with the eagle.