I rarely post photos of raptors on utility poles but I think this one is more interesting than most, for three reasons.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Recently I told viewers that I seldom stop to photograph hawks on utility poles but I will stop for larger falcons or eagles. So ten days ago in Box Elder County I took quite a few photos of this adult Bald Eagle very soon after sunrise. The eagle was unusually tolerant of my presence and I loved the effects of the warm morning light.
Because of the wire and insulators I presumed I wouldn’t be posting any of the photos to my blog but when I saw some of them on my big screen I changed my mind. I liked the photos for three reasons that were unusual for an eagle on a utility pole.
- Birds on poles usually have sky in the background. Sky tends to be homogenous blue or bright and unflattering white and I’m not particularly fond of either one in my backgrounds. In most cases I just don’t think they contribute much to the photo. But this eagle was on an unusually short, old-style pole which allowed me to get a desert mountain in the background. For me this background is much more interesting than plain blue, white or some variation thereof.
- I like the complementary color palette of the entire photo, including the usually distracting and annoying insulators. I think these nearly antique insulators actually have character.
- I often photograph hawks with prey on poles. But in my experience eagles, of both species, seldom carry prey to the tops of poles and this eagle appeared to have prey at its feet, which for me adds interest.
And that added interest was my motivation to attempt to identify the presumed prey, which I couldn’t through my viewfinder from this position. So when I’d taken all the photos I wanted with the mountain in the background I kept my lens out my window as I drove down the road to leave the eagle behind. That put me closer to the bird at a different angle which I hoped would allow me to identify the prey.
I’m still not sure what it was but based partly on color my best guess is rabbit but it could be a light-colored small rodent. In some ways I think it looks like a rabbit’s foot and in some ways it doesn’t.
Either way, for me there’s no doubt that it made the first photo more interesting.
Ron
In 2016 my friend Linda and I took a trip out along the dirt road from Promontory toward Locomotive Springs and to many of the old train ghost town locations in the west desert. We were shocked at all the dead rabbits along the dirt roadways. We stopped and checked many dead rabbits out. They had all been shot, there were shell casings everywhere out there. We also saw ravens, crows and eagles eating dead rabbits. With the recent intake of another lead poisoned eagle at WRCNU I hope your eagle was eating road kill or one killed by the eagle.
I read about the WRCNU eagle. Very sad case.
Spectacular shots Ron, thanks for sharing!
Charlotte Norton
Thank you, Charlotte.
I’m not sure old Ben had much room to lecture on “moral character,” given he apparently was known to be (take your pick) a scoundrel or a rascal. But I digress. This Bald Eagle is indeed a fine visual representation of bird-dom if not our country’s aspirations. S/he seems proud to sit on that perch with those Fiestaware-beautiful insulators, prey in talons. Lovely light and colors, too. I score this 🦅🦅 up!
Chris, you make a good point about Ben. Hypocritical politicians are far from a new phenomenon.
Well, so he steals. That’s a good ol’ American tactic, isn’t it? Elections, money sent to help the poor? Tricking the old folks by pretending to be a grandchild in extremis? Franklin was wrong about the Bald not fishing for him/herself. Just – well, if a weaker cousin has already done the hard work and you can get away with it. . .pretty representative of humanity in general, Forgive my pessimistic moment . . .
Sallie, pessimistic cynicism is hard to avoid these days. I have the same tendency.
That majestic marvel immediately improves the look of its perch. Any perch. And that amazing light is the icing on the cake.
I agree with both of your points, EC.
Ron,
Excellent points on the pic. I am happy any time I see a bald eagle and I don’t have quite the disdain for poles but understand your “hand of man” desires in your photography. I would prefer the natural as well but … I’m just an amateur, taking what I can get. Therefore, it was frustrating to see a “sticky” (to use your vernacular) bald eagle out by Utah Lake recently and only have my iPhone. Your policy to always have a camera (with my baby lens) in the vehicle would have proven worthwhile.
Love the shots and the background. I too like the insulation.
Stephen
Stephen, several things you mentioned suggest to me that you pay attention to, and remember, a lot of the things I mention in my posts. The teacher in me appreciates that. Hopefully the things you remember are sometimes helpful.
They certainly are, Teach!
SEC
The light and the background are really nice!
Thank you, Bruce.
Everything works! 🙂 Beautiful bird…. 🙂 Those particular insulators ARE pretty 😉 Does appear to be a rabbit foot tho hard to tell.
Thanks, Judy. Sometimes I think it’s a rabbit’s foot and the next time I look at it I think it’s a lighter than usual vole. Who knows…
I like the old-style pole with old-style ceramic insulator too and the bird of course! Two days ago driving the backroads, I saw a big hawk fly out of the undergrowth along the road with a furry rodent in its claw, making good height with it too, in a direction away from the road. I can understand why so many of these birds of prey become unfortunately roadkill.
Terri, I once say a Golden Eagle come within a feather’s breadth of becoming road kill. I’ll never forget it.
Such a beautiful bird! It’s also interesting to see the same bird with such drastically different backgrounds.
Have you or your followers heard about this Steller’s sea eagle and its travels?
https://www.audubon.org/news/inside-amazing-cross-continent-saga-stellers-sea-eagle
I hope it comes to visit us in southern Rhode Island.
Thanks, Mark. As I often say, backgrounds matter. Yes, I’ve been reading about that Steller’s Sea Eagle.
Ron, you know I LOVE Bald Eagles & this fellow (or she) is so majestic. As for what the victim is I have no idea. One thing I can say is what was wrong with Ben Franklin to prefer the Turkey to our Bald Eagle? For such a brilliant man he was so wrong in this instant!!
Jo Ann, I have to admit that I think Franklin had a valid point. Bald Eagles are certainly more majestic looking than Wild Turkeys but his objection was based on behavior. He didn’t think typical Bald Eagle behavior was an appropriate model for our National Bird. Here’s what he said about the Bald Eagle:
” “a bird of bad moral character” that “does not get his living honestly” because it steals food from the fishing hawk and is “too lazy to fish for himself.”
On the other hand, based purely on a visual representation, the Bald Eagle certainly works better than the Wild Turkey, IMO.