I spent this morning at Farmington Bay photographing Great Blue Herons, Pied-billed Grebes, Ring-necked Pheasants, Fox Sparrows, American Kestrels and even a Long-tailed Weasel in the fog. But Bald Eagles were never far from my mind as it’s this time of year that wintering eagles begin to show up in good numbers. Most years refuge managers kill carp because they’re invasive and very destructive to the emergent vegetation needed by waterfowl so the eagles congregate at Farmington to feast on the fish. But last year, early on in the winter, many of our Utah Bald Eagles were dying from West Nile Virus (at first they didn’t know the cause) so the carp kill wasn’t done for fear that eagles congregating in large numbers would allow the disease to spread throughout the population more easily. As a result, “eagle season” at Farmington was pretty much a bust last year.
So, with eagles on my mind during the drive home this morning I thought I’d post on Farmington eagles today. First some photos from previous years to demonstrate what some of the possibilities are for photographers when eagles are there in good numbers. All of these photos were taken at Farmington in previous winters (early February is usually best for them as that’s when the carp are killed).
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4 tc
Close-ups of eagles in flight are high on the list of most bird photographers and they usually aren’t disappointed at Farmington.
1/1000, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4 tc
I thought this sub-adult (still some dark feathers on the head) was going to take my head off but instead it landed on a post almost directly in front of me.
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4 tc
Close up portraits are always a possibility once the birds have had some time to become acclimated to vehicles and people.
1/1000, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4 tc
The Wasatch Mountains to the east butt up very close to Farmington and they can certainly provide some variety to the more typical sky backgrounds of eagles in flight.
1/800, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4 tc
Even though the carp are often plentiful the eagles skirmish over them frequently. This one decided that it didn’t want to fight for its frozen fish so it took it to the top of a post away from the ice where it would be less likely to have other birds attempt to steal it.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4 tc
But serious fights over fish and space on the ice are commonplace and they’re very exciting to photograph, even in marginal light like this.
I’ve already had several inquiries from out-of-town photographers about eagles at Farmington and the possibility of having the carp kill this winter. I really haven’t heard any recent plans but the last I did hear the tentative plan was to wait and see if West Nile Virus breaks out in our eagles before making a decision. I suspect that the decision won’t be made until toward the end of January, just before the usual timing of the carp kill during the first few days of February. As the time approaches and if a decision is announced ahead of time I’ll report it here.
So far I’ve only seen two different eagles at Farmington but it’s early yet. Fingers are crossed.
Ron
The “INCOMING” strafing view is simply stunning. 😀
Head on flight image is super impressive Ron. I was in awe…
Glad you liked it, Butch. Thank you.
What shots Ron! WOW! Those are some strong powerful birds!!
“Those are some strong powerful birds!!”
You’ve got that right, Nancy. Thanks.
Stunning magnificent shots Ron!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.
Thank you, Charlotte.
Oh, envy, envy!!!! I went up to Conowingo Monday for some eagle snapping, but the weather changed … dull light … and even duller me. Oh well … I’ll try to get back up there while the eagles are still in residence!!! As always, your images are tack sharp and clear as a bell <~~ in fact, I hear ringing!!! ; ))
Lois, “weather changing and dull light” is my middle name lately so I know how you feel. Thanks.
These Eagle shots are delightful, beautiful, behavioral, exceptional images! Now all you have to do is get a shot of an Eagle intimidating an Osprey for its fish. I’ve seen that only twice in real life, but never in a photograph.
This was a fun series to look at, many thanks!
Thanks, Dick. I don’t often see those two species together. Our Ospreys have vamoosed by the time eagles in any number get here. It’s always possible at Red Rocks NWR or Flaming Gorge though. I’ll be on the lookout but don’t hold your breath!
Oh I won’t hold my breath. However, I watched an Eagle attack an Osprey, (during July) the two climbed and the Eagle was so aggressive that the Osprey dropped its fish. The Eagle caught the fish in mid-air and flew off with it. Well the Osprey was so pissed off that he turned and took off after the Eagle. Unfortunately there flight went beyond where I could watch. It was at some distance another reason I tend to carry my camera with me wherever I go.
Wow! I’ve heard about those encounters but never witnessed it between those two species. Seen some neat ones between eagles though…
I’m seriously procrastinating about even starting a commissioned painting of a Bald Eagle..can’t make my mind up what pose,angle, view to do…these only add to my indecision…too,any many great options!!!..woe is me!!! If I saw one of those big guys rocketing my way , I’d hit the ground so fast and hard, it would take me a week to climb out of the crater!!!
Patty, when that bird was coming at me, through the lens it looked like I might not survive…
But what a way to go…
Wow, wow and wow. And thank you.
Thank you, Elephant’s Child.
you take awesome pictures – I know you are very sensitive about people copying them – I save beautiful pictures I find on the computer to files on my computer and watch them as a slide show before bed to calm me after taking care of my Mom who has Alzheimer’s – in the past I have found many of your pics that I have been able to copy and paste to these files – I have not been able to do that for quite a while. The quality of you pictures is outstanding and I was wondering if for a price I could be allowed to copy and paste pics to my personal file on my personal computer that will never be shared with the world at large – ?? I do hope this request does not upset you – I have just seen so many awesome pics – the one of the juvenile bald eagle heading for you prompted me to leave a reply – something that I am loathe to do 🙂 ??
Hi Michelle, The reason you’ve been unable to “do this for quite a while” is because I’ve had to disable right-click copy because of image thieves.
I’d be happy to allow you to use my images as you describe as long as they are never shared. I’ll email you with more information about how we can accomplish it. And there will be no “price” of course.
I wish you the very, very best with your Mom. I can only imagine…
Ron
Ron, cannot decide which picture is best – all of them just, just wow! Hoping they have an abundance of food this winter. West Nile virus? Reminds me of something. Going back a few years here, and not sure who was doing it, started mosquito spraying, via ground and air. After the first year of mosquito spraying from low flying planes, homeowners were finding dead birds locally. Some were alone on lawns or in streets, others were found in groups in ponds or in wetlands, all different types of birds. No one let us know what the cause was – but there was this spraying coincidence. Just a sin, a real sin. May your eagles have a healthy feast this winter!
Dianne, Our eagles got WNV from eating dead Eared Grebes on the Great Salt Lake. Lots of eagles died. Ironically, mosquitoes are a vector of WNV, exactly what they were spraying to kill in your area.
Beautiful photos. I especially like the one that is headed straight for you. In the confrontation photo am I seeing [seemingly] very large alulae on the upper bird?
Yes, you are, Susan – on the right wing. Thank you.