Plus yesterday I got a single photo of the rarest bird I’ve ever photographed.
Yesterday morning I noticed a cluster of ravens and magpies circling over an area on the ground that I couldn’t see because of the high and steep road bank on my immediate left. I figured they might be circling over something dead and that was pretty much confirmed when a Golden Eagle rose up from the same spot on the ground to where I could finally see it.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
The eagle landed on a nearby small, old and decrepit utility pole but he had a devil of a time staying up there, which made for quite a few interesting photos. The pole had a single insulator, right on top, that was too small for ‘him’ to get both feet on so he had to put one foot on the insulator and/or wire and the other foot on the top of the pole – an awkward position to be sure.
Time and time again he lost his balance which required him to use his wings in order to stay on the pole. I think this photo is excellent to show both the huge wingspan of the Golden Eagle and their very large surface area. I’m sure the flared alula that we see on his left wing is at least as large as some of the songbirds I photograph.
In some of my other photos I could see large clumps of light-colored mammal fur stuck to the bottoms of both of his feet, which makes me think that the critter the birds were feeding on was a rabbit, likely killed by the eagle.
Whenever I visit this general location I try to make it a point to arrive just before sunrise. There’s a pond on the east side of the road that typically has mixed groups of waterfowl on it – yesterday it was ducks, geese and a few swans. On that side of the road the birds are always backlit while they’re on the pond but some or all of them usually take off as I approach.
Some day I hope to get lucky with photos of ducks, geese and/or swans in flight and in silhouette with the upper portion of the sun rising over the mountains in the background.
1/5000, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
But it didn’t happen yesterday. This wasn’t the photo I was trying to get because we can’t see the top of the sun’s orb peeking over the mountains to the east. When this shot was taken the upper portion of the rising sun was out of frame to the right, but it does give you an idea of what I was trying to do.
However, a couple of seconds later I managed to get a single photo of the most unusual bird I’ve ever had in my viewfinder – the highly elusive and…
1/8000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
extremely odd Four-winged Duck. The rarest bird I’ve ever photographed.
Happy Valentine’s Day. Or is it April Fool’s Day?
Ron
Note: That last photo is NOT photoshopped. I guarantee it.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thanks, Patty. I hope you’re doing better.
Time to buy a lottery ticket after the “Double Duck” sighting. 😉
The Golden is a stunner — as always. Hubby and I watched the Illinois-Ohio State Women’s Gymnastics meet (Go Illinois!!! 💙🧡) last night and saw some similar balancing acts on the beam. Both the women and the eagle did some fancy toe/talon gripping to stay aloft.
Ya know what, Marty? I’ve never bought a lottery ticket in my life. As you suggest, maybe I should start.
I’m glad you were in the right place at the right time to catch both Golden Eagle and Double Duck!
Thinking catch light not even necessary in eagle’s eye because that gold eye and dark pupil are very visible with just a little “embiggening” … what a fabulous raptor! ♥️
Thanks, Chris. I just wish that presumed rabbit carcass was where I could see it. Or get to it.
Hey Ron, beautiful shot of the Golden, used to see these in in the lower canyon of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho when I was a whitewater boatman there. I’ve seen two nesting pair in the cliffs near Denali. Always so far away.
As one duck said to another, ‘Let’s fly united”
“As one duck said to another, ‘Let’s fly united””
I remember that old United Airlines slogan well, Lee. It was the inspiration for many a racy cartoon.
Hmmm. Can’t find that duck in Sibley. I was fortunate enough to go see golden eagles last week and one of the nests had a deer antler in it! Amazing birds. One we watched soared for over 10 minutes without a wing flap . Might have been longer but he went over the ridge.
“One we watched soared for over 10 minutes without a wing flap”
Catherine, in part that ability is due to the large surface area of their wings.
I am pretty sure the “four-winged duck” is a photoshop job – LOL!
Just kidding, Congrats on this rare lifer…wink
Happy Valentine’s Day!
I guarantee it isn’t a photoshop job, Rene. What you see is how it was.
I’ve never been lucky enough to see a Golden Eagle. What an impressive wing span. How fun to watch it stick their landing😀
I watched it land twice, Diana. Landings are always impressive.
Not an eye catch in any of ‘em and I couldn’t care less. In order of photos: awestruck, timeless, and what the #%*?
Lyle, the only photo where a catch light would matter is the one of the eagle. And yes, I wish I had one in that shot.
Since you discovered the species, we should call it the “Dudley Double Duck!”
When I first saw the avula, I thought it was part of the transformer assembly. Superb photo of all the underside wing feathers.
“we should call it the “Dudley Double Duck”
Kent, since I was apparently the first one to describe the bird I get to assign its scientific name. I’ve decided on Duplici.dudleyi.
Ubetcha!
Merci buckets!!
Je t’en priery, Mary.
The Golden Eagle shot really shows off the immense wing area of these magnificent birds.
The silhouette shots are nice too. I’m glad you include the art shots as well as the more documentary shots in your posts. And your sense of humor is always appreciated. Some mornings it’s just what is needed.
“your sense of humor is always appreciated”
Glad to know that, Michael. I thought I might be stretching it a little with this one.
Yes – should have saved the four-winged duck for April Fool’s Day Ron.
Beautiful photo of the Golden on top of the pole. Too bad he/she did not stop on the top of a dead tree or at least a fence post. I am definitely not an ornithologist nor an aeronautical engineer, but I am thinking that the larger wing span the harder it would be to balance yourself on a small object like this top of the pole.
“Too bad he/she did not stop on the top of a dead tree”
Everett, I actually like that photo best with the eagle on the pole, which allows us to see the fancy footwork she had to do to stay up there.
Can’t talk. Head cocked trying to figure out that obvious sign from the universe.
Fore!!!
Duck!
Not a good day for golfing.
Arwen, I often find myself trying to figure out the obvious!
I did a double take! Happy ValenFools Day!
Same to you and Stacey, Brett.
Beautiful Golden – I always forget just how large they are until I see them on road kill near the edge of the road! Silhouette of the ducks is nice. 4-winged duck indeed! A good laugh…… 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Judy.
Hi Ron, Love the perfect double Duck shot! Don
Thanks, Don.
Bahahaha!
(Gorgeous golden shots btw)
Thank you, Suzanne.