For the past several weeks I’ve sporadically been photographing Golden Eagles on Antelope Island. Yesterday morning was the most fun (and the most disappointing) time with them yet.
I spent 31 minutes photographing two Golden Eagles (and one immature Bald Eagle) as they soared in the north wind as it rose up at the north end of the island. I’ll delete most of the images I took of them because it was relatively late in the morning and the sun was high so the eagles above me were mostly shaded because in that wind they rarely had to flap their wings to remain aloft. I did get a few images I like though.
This first image is for documentary purposes only.
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
A couple of days ago there were three Golden’s on the island but yesterday I saw only two. I believe them to be the same birds involved in a tussle with coyotes over a jack-rabbit that I posted about recently. These two eagles almost seem to be joined at the hip – they’re never far apart, even in flight. As they were soaring they would occasionally almost clip each other in the air. I was under the impression, accurate or not, that these birds were more serious about having fun in the wind than they were about hunting.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This image illustrates part of the light problem I was dealing with. The sun was so high and the light so contrasty that there was no detail in whatever parts of the bird were shaded and shooting from below that was often a big part of the bird. Though I do like this shot, the shadows show very little detail. I was only able to get good light on the eagles when they were almost at eye level and even then they usually needed to bank in flight.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Most of the images I like included blue sky as background but they’re still better flight shots than I’ve ever been able to get of Golden Eagles in the past.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
This is the second Golden Eagle. Notice that this bird has significant feather damage to the tips of its left wing primaries. I guess it’s a tough life when you’re skirmishing with coyotes over prey…
In the 31 minutes I spent with these eagles I took almost 600 shots of them and I’ll probably delete all but a couple of dozen of them – that hurts because Golden Eagles have long been one of my most elusive and desirable subjects.
That’s the agony and the ecstasy of bird photography but dang it was fun!
Ron
Note: Last night my friend Mike Shaw pointed out correctly that the left wing primaries are not damaged as I thought they were. If you look carefully you can see that they’re simply turned up due to the air pressure of the banked turn which makes them appear squared off at the ends.
Ron,
I don’t comment much on you blog postings, although I follow them daily. I am the retired biologist that worked in West Yellowstone for many summers, and loved the Red Rock Lakes area.
I once sat and watched five Golden eagles play in the updrafts off of a basalt cliff near Adel, OR (I grew up near there)and was enthralled. I can appreciate your feelings.
I was in the Tulelake Wildlife Refuge this weekend, and watched many eagles, a few goldens. Thank you for all of the beautiful photographs, and the technical information.
Bob
Bob, Wow, FIVE Goldens at the same time! Three has been tops for me. That must have been an incredible experience.
And working in West Yellowstone I’m sure you were very familiar with the Centennial Valley and RRLNWR. What a magical place.
oh Ron, these are unbelievable shots. my fave is the last one. thank you for sharing.
I always find it interesting to know what shots are the favorites of my readers, Dianne. I like to compare it to my own choice. Thanks very much.
What a magical, magical, WONDERFUL experience.
And, if I had wings, I am sure that I would play in the sky as well.
I’ll bet you would “play in the sky” if you could, EC. As would I. Thank you.
How much fun it must have been to see those eagles playing in (and with) the wind! The goldens are far and above my favorite eagles and I’ve felt blessed every time I’ve been lucky enough to see them. I’ve seen plenty of Baldies, usually several at a time, and find them awe inspiring and magnificent every time, but it’s the Goldens I love most….I find them “finer” and and even more beautiful…have never seen more than one golden at a time. I really envy you!!!
“I really envy you!!!”
I can tell you realize how special it has been to spend time with these eagles recently. Two see three of them at the same time a few days ago was something I won’t soon forget. Thank you, Patty.
Great pictures of my favorite raptor! I partcularly like the contrast between the darker images (with less detail, more silhouette) and the more detailed ones…find that artistically very pleasing. Blunted primaries on one bird’s left wing almost looks clipped. Don’t like idea of them being “in decline”… Makes me worried and sad.
Wonderful images of a particularly challenging species!!!
Thank you, Gail.
Nice photos of the Golden Eagles Ron. They came out much better than I can ever get with these “photon traps”. I am curious if you purposely over exposed on the bird via spot metering (relative to the sky, or a wooden post, or ?). In other words did you change your normal exposure settings by spot metering on the Golden Eagle(s) in flight ? I hope that you continue to see them out there and perhaps get to see some of the two or three year old ones with the white patches on them.
Ed, I simply exposed for what looked good overall on my camera screen and then adjusted my settings as best I could when the background changed. Most shots were slightly overexposed for the shadows (“shoot to the right”) and then processed accordingly. That said, most of the shots I got of these birds are not very good because of the very deep shadows.
Incredible shots of (at least for me) such an elusive bird. Great photography Ron! Did your big lens come back?
Thanks, Steve. Yes, I got it back two days ago. These images were taken with it.
I predict that this is your year of the Golden Eagle. 😀 It was interesting to have you point out what you didn’t like. At first glance I didn’t see the areas that were so dark. 😀
I hope you’re right about the “year of the Golden Eagle”, Arwen. They’re in decline around here, especially in the west desert.