Bald Eagles at Farmington Bay

I paid another visit to Farmington yesterday and while I got some nice shots of a few other species I was reminded of the Bald Eagles that were winter residents out there just a few short months ago.  I miss them.  So when it turned overcast this morning and I couldn’t go out photographing birds I decided to revisit some of the eagle images I got at Farmington three months ago.

 

Canon 7D, 1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

This carp may have been an easy catch for the eagle because the water was quite shallow and the fish was likely stunned (though it did appear to still be alive) by the rotenone used to control these fish at the refuge. 

 

 

Canon 7D, 1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

Both of these images of the eagle with the  fish were difficult exposures with the white head facing toward the sun but I liked the action and the good look at the carp. 

 

 

Canon 7D, 1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

This is one of my better exposures on both the white head and the very dark body and wing plumage in the species.  Early morning light certainly helped with that exposure. 

 

 

Canon 7D, 1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

I like the unusual head turn from this juvenile bird and the Wasatch Mountain background. 

 

 

Canon 7D, 1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc (wish I’d had lower ISO in this image and the next one)

This adult banked away from me to give a good look at the muddy feet and tail and the banged-up primaries as evidence that winter survival at the refuge isn’t easy.

 

 

Canon 7D, 1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

In this image I like the slightly open beak and the way the white head is shown off by the  dark wing behind it. 

 

 

Canon 7D, 1/1250, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc

This image is one of my personal favorites because of the subtle lighting/detail under the wings and the blood on the beak.   I also like the eagle against the Wasatch Mountain background.  If you look closely you can see that the birds right eye is blown – something I’ve seen several times in owls but this is the first I’ve seen it in an eagle.  The way they sometimes fight it’s no surprise though.

Ron