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View Full Version : Found a few bald eagles; however,

Maestro
Jan-14-2007, 08:49 PM
the weather did not cooperate at all. I also desperately needed a good external flash unit with a beamer! :wink My poor F4.5 lens just couldn't take the low light conditions, the rain, and this extremely amateur photographer couldn't take the 35 degrees Fahrenheit with strong gusty northwestern winds.

I had gone down to Lake Buchanan to join the annual eagle count down there. We went out on a large boat, saw plenty of gulls, an osprey, a ton of comorants, three herons and three bald eagles, one mature and two juveniles. There were probably more eagles but we didn't spot them. As I alluded to in one of Harry's threads, my shots were extremely underexposed and my poor camera tried to compensate leaving most of my shots looking like this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/what_causes_this.jpg

Long story, short, I didn't get much at the park I stayed at, even though it is known for great birding! The weather just didn't permit it.

Nonetheless, as we left, I wanted to go about 20 miles west to see if I could see some eagles known for returning to the same nest since 2003. It is just off the highway near Llano, Texas, for those of you who want to use Google Maps or Google Earth to find it. Mind you that the weather was still just as awful and drizzling when I arrived. Here is some of what I got. The exposure is awful, I know, but I had no light to work with.

At first, I didn't see any action. I waited for a few minutes. Then I started hearing the call of an eagle. Soon enough I spot one coming in fast.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/HW29_eagle_flying_to_nest_cropped_l.jpg

Are we going to the nest?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/HW29_eagle_flying_to_nest2_lt_bg.jpg

No, I don't think so.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/HW29_eagle_flying_to_nest3_sharper_.jpg

Looks like she/he is headed for the branch.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/HW29_eagle_flying_to_nest4_sharper_.jpg

Landing...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/HW29_eagle_landing_cropped-1.jpg

Perched.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/HW29_eagle_perched3_cropped.jpg

Even though these pics pale to the high quality of the raptor pics at this site, I was excited because I had never seen an eagle in the wild before this day. I was glad to have had the opportunity to photograph this majestic animal under the conditions in which I found myself. BTW, the closest I could get was somewhere between 75 and 100 yards. My 400mm just didn't quite have the reach I really needed. I'll post some more later. I have some decent ones also of this same baldy around the nest.
Harryb
Jan-15-2007, 06:32 AM
I couldn't have done any better under those conditions. There are days taht just aren't meant for shooting. You got a few usuable shots and you had the thrill of seeing the eagles, so it wasn't a bad day. :thumb
jwear
Jan-15-2007, 06:42 AM
well you did as good as you can in that light --me I only watch when the light is really poor I have not got anyshots in really grey weather
dallas
Jan-15-2007, 07:55 AM
Not bad under the circumstances, and the Eagles are wonderful to see in the wild.:thumb :thumb :thumb
Maestro
Jan-15-2007, 12:44 PM
Thanks for the comments. It was the toughest day I have ever had shooting. Anyhow, here are few more shots of the eagle in the nest.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/HW29_eagle_ruffling_feathers_croppe.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/HW29_eagle_stepping_nest_cropped.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v116/maestros/Nature/HW29_eagle_peaking_head_up_cropped.jpg

I was amazed at how large the nest was. It is in an old pecan tree.
kdog
Jan-15-2007, 03:17 PM
You did fine given the conditions, Maestro. The nest shots are excellent. That IS a big a nest. Eagles keep the same nests permanently, and add on to them every year. I've heard they get that big, but had never seen one until now. Good shooting. :thumb

Regards,
-joel
dbaker1221
Jan-15-2007, 03:51 PM
good job. :clap you shoot what you can.
Manticore
Jan-15-2007, 04:44 PM
I've never been lucky enough to get that close to an eagle. You made the best of a difficult situation - and got some great pics.
Maestro
Jan-15-2007, 07:10 PM
You did fine given the conditions, Maestro. The nest shots are excellent. That IS a big a nest. Eagles keep the same nests permanently, and add on to them every year. I've heard they get that big, but had never seen one until now. Good shooting. :thumb

Regards,
-joel

Good. I'm glad you saw that you hadn't before. It was all new to me. Previously I had only seen eagles in zoos.
Maestro
Jan-15-2007, 07:11 PM
good job. :clap you shoot what you can.

Thanks. In post processing, unsharp mask layers, brightness layers and exposure contorl in RAW were all my friends.
Maestro
Jan-15-2007, 07:13 PM
I've never been lucky enough to get that close to an eagle. You made the best of a difficult situation - and got some great pics.

It really is a unique situation at least for Texas. I'm sure in the Northwest and Alaska you can could get closer.
Gale
Jan-16-2007, 05:09 AM
What a thrill for sure. First time I saw one I was so excited i couldn't get a decent shot if you paid me.

You have a great memory and nice pics:>))))
raptorcaptor
Jan-16-2007, 06:41 AM
Nice shots! :thumb Too bad about the weather! Now where is a bald eagle when you want to build a bonfire! :rofl