Serendipity strikes again.
An older series of six flight shots I’ve never posted before. Until last night I’d forgotten they existed, even though I’ve published two other photos of this bird in the past..
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
If I remember correctly this adult Bald Eagle at Farmington Bay WMA had been standing in the very shallow water with the fish already in ‘his’ talons’ when he decided to take off with it. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time to capture his flight immediately after takeoff.
His flight was to the south toward the early afternoon sun that was still low in the winter sky so he was side lit. I was just lucky that his flight angle put light on his face and that during processing I was able to retrieve at least some detail in most of his shaded surfaces. I regularly thank the gods of photography for the more flexible processing features of RAW files over jpeg.
In this shot his nictitating membrane is partially closed.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
The thick-bodied carp was fairly heavy and the eagle was carrying a water load in his lower feathers so he struggled just a bit to gain elevation.
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I was glad to capture this shot showing off his very impressive wingspan.
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Except for the angle of his head and the position of his left foot his flight posture in this photo is almost exactly the same as it was in photo #2.
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
And these last two photos are…
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
also very similar except for head angle.
This year we have pretty good numbers of wintering eagles again but they tend to stay far out in the wetlands or on the ice so they’re very difficult to photograph well. So last night it was a fortunate stroke of serendipity for me to stumble across this series that I’d completely forgotten about.
They could very easily have been ‘lost’ in my files for the duration.
Ron
Eagles have such interesting heads. 😀 I always see them as intense or stern. That is solely based on how my eyes perceive their expression.
They typically look that way to me too, Arwen.
A wonderful series – well done.
Thanks, Gary.
Lots of “s” words apply here — serendipity, spectacular, special, stunning, stupendous (well, that last one may be a bit much) — but really, this series provides an amazing view of the effort eagles must make to hang on to their slippery prey! Can’t decide on a favorite this time — love those beautiful, outstretched wings in #3, and also the look of intensity in #4 where the left foot appears to have released the talons’ grip momentarily for readjustment. “Must hang on, must hang on!”
Thanks, Chris. #3 is my favorite, without a doubt. But I like them all.
Ron,
Thanks for the “historical” pics! I was out to FBWMA last week and saw zippo as far as bald eagles go … and very little else. I did see some bald eagles in San Pete County a couple of weeks ago though. I hope to see some more but they seem scarce compared to a couple of years ago. Sad.
Stephen, It’s been a while now since I’ve been to Farmington. But folks have been reporting fairly good numbers of them there, just too far out.
WOWSERS. How I would love (as would many of your readers) to spend time in your files.
You had forgotten this series? That in itself says volumes for the quality of the photos you take…
“You had forgotten this series”
Yup, I had EC. I remembered the two other photos I posted of this bird but completely forgot about all of these.
Wow! Powerful and striking 🙂
Thanks, Kathleen.
Fantastic. That 3rd shot is my favorite!
Thanks, Michael.
Always amazing how you bring out the colors of those magnificent feathers.
You should stop calling it your archives and refer to it as your treasure chest. I’ve no doubt there are many more gems buried in there.
Lyle, I’ve been trying to remember not to call older photos my ‘archives’ because too many folks just assume that because I call them that I’ve posted them before. Usually I haven’t.
Since we seldom see a bald eagle around these parts, I would be ecstatic with any one of those superb photographs!
The series is really fascinating. It’s like taking a frame-by-frame examination of a film (which, I guess it actually is). Like snowflakes, each image is the same as the others except for slight differences.
Too much of a good thing is still – a good thing.
“Too much of a good thing is still – a good thing”
If it isn’t always it sure was in this case Wally.
I am always a fan of great Eagle images and these are GREAT !! I am glad that you found them and found time to share them with us !!
Thanks, Gary.
Stunning. Stunning. Stunning.
Looks like he’s (or maybe she’s — does the tarsal width hold true for Bald Eagles or just Red Tails?) doing a little bit of adjusting the left foot all the way through until finally getting a two-fisted grip on the carp in the final couple of shots.
I’m positive there are more gems in your archives too! 🙂
Marty, I haven’t heard that tarsi thickness is a trait that can be used to sex eagles but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. I just don’t know.
Beautiful series, thank you for posting! Bald eagles are a favorite 😍 and your photos are pretty special
I’m glad you like them Theresa.
What gorgeous warm light on the head and unshaded portion of the wings and indeed, thanks be to RAW for the rest. I am firmly in Wally’s “good thing” camp here. I would have loved to own up to any of these shots. Isn’t it amazing how vulnerable these otherwise powerful birds are when they get wet?
Granny Pat, they can get pretty soggy when they take a dunk. Makes me cold just to think about it.
WOW! Absolutely beautiful shots, Ron! 🙂 In the 4th shot it looks like he might be trying to get a better grip with his left foot. Sure glad they “surfaced” in your “history” files… 😉
I noticed that claw re-adjustment too!!
Thanks, Judy. Me too.
An excellent series in some real nice light!
Thanks, Bruce!
Serendipity indeed, and being in the right place at the right time. Really neat too that he was standing in the water ready to take off rather than you having to catch him in flight grabbing the fish. Beautiful series and since I am such an eagle fan I might just have to vote for this one as one of your very best. The average adult eagle only weighs 9.5 pounds so that is quite a job to lift off with that heavy looking fish and the added weight of the wet feathers. I think I like #3 best.
Everett, I’d have liked to at least have had a chance at capturing him snagging the carp from the water while he was in flight but it just wasn’t to be. Oh well, I’d probably have screwed up those photos anyway…
Fantastic series! Thanks for sharing. I never tire of looking at your older photos.
Thank you, Cindy.
Wow, Wow, Wow, Ron!!! I love the whole series of my favorite Raptor!!
Thanks very much, Jo Ann.
WOW– shot #3 ( “very impressive wingspan”. indeed ! ). You have the best
“lost and found” department I know of……I’m so glad that you’ve kept such
a plethora of wonders to draw upon !
Kris, I keep thinking there’s nothing very special left in my older files that I haven’t posted before. And then I find a series like this. It really surprised me.