When it comes to food Bald Eagles mean business.
- Note: I posted two of these photos way back in 2010 but since it’s been so long I figured few current blog followers have seen them. These photos are some of the very first I ever posted to Feathered Photography.
1/1600, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
January of 2009 was a time of opportunity for bird photographers at Farmington Bay WMA. Bald Eagles in good numbers were feeding on carp in one of the ponds that had good morning light and they weren’t particularly shy about it. Their pugnacious nature combined with a limited number of fish often led to “disagreements” that were fun to photograph.
This adult was letting “his” displeasure with the close presence of other eagles be known. I’ve always liked this shot for his fierce demeanor and for the good look at his flared “pantaloons” draped into the water.
A different crop of the same photo makes the source of his displeasure obvious. There were two other eagles only about a foot in front of him – this juvenile and another adult directly in front of him that we can’t see.
So what was he protecting?
1/1000, f/11, ISO 500, Canon 40D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
He had the remains of a carp in his talons that we can’t see below the water’s surface and he definitely didn’t want to share it with the other eagles. When he was satisfied that they weren’t an immediate threat he reached down and pulled off what appears to be a pectoral or pelvic fin and swallowed it, glaring at his companions the entire time.
I hope readers don’t mind me posting more older photos this morning but weather and circumstances have kept me mostly out of the field for some time now. Our weather forecast for this week is much improved so I have reasonable hope of getting new birds in my viewfinder again.
It’s been a long dry spell.
Ron
Things can get fierce when it comes to food. I thought it looked like he was wearing flood pants, then I read your reference to “pantaloons.” Pantaloons to me are underwear, akin to bloomers. Riding britches are tight to the leg.
Apparently, I’m part Bald Eagle when it comes to food…
Also, the word, “Pantaloons!” came out of my mouth the moment I scrolled down to your first image. 🤣 Absolutely love the last shot — man, if looks could kill. If you happen to still have any shots from this encounter in your archive, I’d love to see them!
WHAT a great shot. Those are some of the best pantaloons I have seen (and are definitely not britches which some other raptors wear). I would really, really like to have a ‘Back off. Back off NOW’ expression like that one at my disposal too. It would make antisocial distancing a piece of cake.
Thanks Ron.
OK, I need some enlightenment, EC. Since the use of those terms here originated with you – What’s the difference between britches and pantaloons in the “bird context”? Curious minds wanna know…
Pantaloons have a flared bottom to them, where britches hug the legs more closely. Pantaloons are quite definitely trousers, and britches are often underwear. Seeing either of them makes me smile. Broadly. I am childish that way.
And yes, it was me to started using the phrase here, but it has been adopted by many.
The expressions are priceless. Thanks for sharing these oldies but goodies. They’re new to me and provide some unique image captures.
I’m glad you enjoyed them, Steve. Thank you.
I’m with the rest of your readers, what’s old is new and really, can’t ever see too many raptor pantaloons! And this guy is the epitome of a Grumpy Old Man, yelling at the kid, then downing that tasty fish fin. Baldies, gotta love ‘em. 🦅
Thank you, Chris.
Dang, by the look on that Eagle’s face you’d think that carp fin was a roll of toilet paper.
Let’s see, this photo was taken 11 years ago, so you must be vying for more storage than Google, Microsoft and Amazon put together. I assume it’s all been culled, tagged, catalogued, etc.
Yup, culled, tagged and catalogued, Lyle. I have photos on four different computers. Plus backups.
Don’t mind the old photos, I love the first cropped shot, it looks like the eagle is wearing bell bottom pants, even an older throw back than 2010. I missed those days at Farmington, I was busy rehabbing baby birds and raising my own kids too.
April, I hope you got out this morning. It was nice out there and birds are finally picking up noticeably, including raptors.
Great photo’s Ron looks like he won out!
Thanks, Sybill.
Fantastic! That ‘juvie’ is giving an intense glare back. Even though he looks to be larger, (most likely the camera angle), he does seem to give respect and stays back. Love, love, love the pantaloons!
Thank you, Kathy.
Reruns don’t bother me a bit! “If” I’ve seen them before there is always something new to see/learn in them! 🙂 That is a wonderful view of the “Pantaloons” and him chowing down on his “tidbit”. It wasn’t obvious “what” he was protecting with it buried under water……. The “serious about food” brought to mind the Eagle/Hawk brawl over the scanty deer carcass across the creek winter before last last.
Judy, I guess when it comes right down to it most raptors are serious about their food most of the time. Eagles just seem to take it an extra step.
I’m with Jo Ann on this. Yes, post old eagle photos whenever you need to improvise. They are my all-time favorites. He or she knows that Benjamin Franklin was very correct when he said that they are thieves. They are indeed as every osprey is so well aware. Outstanding series.
I, too, am glad to see your photos from past years– they’re new to me !
Question– do the “pantaloons” flare out when the eagle is being
defensive or threatening ( that old see how big I am -don’t mess with me ) ?
Love, Love, Love it, Ron!! Any time you want to post new or old Bald Eagle photos, I’m happy as a clam (I wonder how that saying came to be?!). I didn’t learn of you & your blog until 2014 so this is a “new” one for me. I’ve never seen a Bald Eagle photo with the “pantaloons” either so that’s also new. Great series!!
Jo Ann,
“The idea behind this expression is that clams are happiest when the ocean is at high tide. When the water it as high tide, the clams are protected from predation by birds. This idiom originated in the United States around the year 1830.”
You just never know what you’ll learn on Feathered Photography!
That last shot looks like he is mumbling, “Damn kids, get off my pond!”
I just might have heard him say exactly that, Arwen… 🙂
As a relatively new reader, I enjoy seeing some of your older photos and learning as we go along !! Thanks for all you do Ron !!
I appreciate the encouragement, Gary.
I can’t remember seeing such a fine view of those ‘pantaloons’ before. In fact, I suspect I haven’t seen any view of them, since my first reaction was, “What the heck are those?”
It’s a look at them we don’t often see, Shoreacres. Some of us call them pantaloons just for the fun of it (originating with Elephant’s Child years ago I believe).