Methinks I sometimes bitch too much when unexpected inclement weather forces me to stay home instead of going shooting as I planned. Blog followers were forced to endure some of that bellyaching in yesterday’s post.
Yesterday it was dense and completely unexpected morning fog that kept me home when I was itching to get out into the field. Of course it cleared up later in the morning but by then it was too damned late. So I stayed home in a lousy mood despite the sunshine, maybe because of the sunshine that came to late to save the day.
But at about midday my neighbor Shane, who knows my addiction to birds, came to my door and told me there was a Bald Eagle in one of our back yard neighbor’s trees.
Hot damn and hallelujah!
But first a little background to set the stage.
Regular blog followers will remember that early last April I had my huge (almost 100′ tall as measured by the crane operator), dangerous and dirty Chinese Elm tree removed. Here we see part of the stump to the right side of my house and a very small part of the actual tree laying in the road out front (the road had to be closed for much of the day which required a permit from the city). Most of the tree had already been hauled to the landfill for composting.
I’m including the photo because it shows the neighbor’s tree the eagle was in yesterday, directly behind and to the left of the stump. That tree is much closer to my house than it appears to be in this photo because I took it with a wide angle lens at only 15mm so both distances and angles are distorted. Because the tree appears to be far away I’ve made the photo larger than I usually do on my blog.
The red arrow marks the spot in the tree where the eagle was perched.
1/2000, f/6.3, ISO 320, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 100mm
Here’s a different perspective at 100mm with my larger zoom lens that shows the eagle in the tree yesterday. That tree really is close to my house. The following images ware all taken with my 500mm lens from either my front yard or just a few feet away from the boundary between Shane’s yard and mine.
Ok, that’s’ more than enough backstory. On to the eagle.
1/1250, f/8, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
When I came outside I was pleasantly surprised to see that I had an unobstructed view of “him,” despite the inevitable clutter in the background. With the naked eye I thought he was a full adult but through my lens it soon became obvious that he wasn’t, not quite. More about that later.
1/1250, f/8, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
At first he didn’t give me any pose variety at all, other than turning his head one way and then the other. I took these shots from different places on the ground far below him so my shooting angle was fairly steep and the background varies.
1/6400, f/8, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
A highly cropped portrait gives us a better look at three of the four reasons I know he wasn’t quite a fully mature adult:
- his bill still has some blackish-gray color rather than being completely yellow (more of that dark color can be seen in photo #4).
- his eyes aren’t yet as yellow as they will be as a fully mature adult.
- there’s still a very small amount of dark brown flecking in his otherwise pure white head.
1/2500, f/8, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
He stayed on the branch for quite a while but eventually he turned with the obvious intention of flying off to the north. This pose finally allowed me a good look at his tail which is reason #4 I know he isn’t a full adult – his tail isn’t yet completely white. This eagle is in transition to full adulthood but isn’t quite there yet.
Eventually he changed his mind about flying off and…
1/1250, f/8, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, not baited, set up or called in
turned around to face me again from a slightly different spot on the branch. He stayed there for a while longer before eventually taking off to the northwest.
At first I thought this bird was probably the same eagle who has roosted in my old elm tree for years almost every January before I had it removed but that bird was a fully mature adult so obviously this is a different eagle.
For me being able to photograph an eagle from my own yard is a big deal. A huge deal, actually. Wintering Bald Eagles in northern Utah used to be more common than they are now. In the distant past I’ve seen as many as nearly 200 Bald Eagles on a single day at Farmington Bay WMA (I had the privilege of going “behind the gates” to help count them) but these days we’re very lucky to see less than a handful and usually they’re far away.
Typically I see none at all, even during “eagle season.”
This is the iconic “eagle tree” at Farmington, photo taken just a few years ago. There were even more eagles in the tree than we see here but this is all I could fit in the frame. The eagle tree is gone now and so are most of the eagles. So photographing a Bald Eagle from my yard in the city is a memorable event for me. It would have been even if I hadn’t been able to get any photos.
I’m sure glad I was forced to stay home yesterday!
Ron
Just checked out your blog and find these nice pictures of a Bald Eagle. You were very lucky to have him in your tree. Love it.
Thanks, Trudy.
So glad that Eagle brightened your day! Such good neighbors you have!
I sure do. Shane has also done yardwork for me that I couldn’t do because of my bad back. More than once – without asking, he just did it.
A bit of a coincidence. We had a Bald Eagle show up yesterday as well. There is a big old cottonwood across the street that is taller than surrounding trees and has a broken branch that they like to roost on but we haven’t seen one there for quite a while. A neighbor went out to get photos of it but he doesn’t have near the equipment to get up close and personal like your photos. There is an aerie between the cottonwood and the harbor, so I assume this one is setting up house again.
Coincidence indeed!
Clutter? What cutter. I see a beautiful tree that has buds on it. Nice close up of the bird.
… in the eye of the beholder. 🙂
Wonderful visitor! Birding seems better in our back yards than the preserves.
I agree, April. I could have very easily been bird-skunked if I’d gone out shooting yesterday morning.
I like your neighborhood Ron!
What a handsome eagle to stop by for a visit with you.
Thanks, Dave. I’ve liked it for something like 30 years, whether or not eagles show up.
Luck of the Irish (or whomever), Ron. Having an eagle in your back yard was a gift that you regifted to us. And having a neighbor alert you was a wonderful gift to. Thanks to Shane and to you!
Thank you, Nancy.
What an absolutely BRILLIANT way to turn the day around. Huge thanks to your neighbour and to the co-operative young un who not only stayed to have his/her photo taken but chose a perch where you could get great photos.
Just the same the photo of the tree where the eagles are displayed like candle lights blew me away. What an amazing thing to have in your memory banks (let alone stored photographically.
EC, I’ve seen photos taken by others of that tree years earlier where there were 3 or 4 times as many eagles in the same tree. How I’d love to have been at Farmington with my big lens back then.
Have you ever gone out to Lost Creek, near Croydon? My husband ice fishes out there. Friday he saw many bald eagles roosting in the trees in the early morning light. They are beautiful birds and I’m so glad you were able to see one from your yard. That fog was no fun!
It’s been many years since I’ve been there, Juliannah. Perhaps I should renew my acquaintance. I hear there’s pretty good numbers of them along the Weber River this winter.
Well.. let’s give a shout out to your neighbor❗️ So happy for you and me that a gorgeous Bald eagle decided to visit. And hopefully a returning visitor.
It’s sad the numbers of them dwindled down that much.
This post make my day😍
Yup, without Shane and Kimmie I’d probably have never known the eagle was there.
Excellent! How far is it from your tree to the nearest water/fish?
Martha, there’s a pond and a river, both about a third of a mile as the crow (eagle) flies, away from the tree.
I’m so grateful you were home to capture the moment. My heart was racing as I stumbled to your door! I will look back on this thread for years to come, thank you.
You’re the one who deserves the thanks, Shane. Without you I might never have known the eagle was there.
Yay, Shane! Thank you for setting things in motion for these wonderful shots!
WELCOME BACK, BIG BIRD!!! NICE!!! Glad for you…
Thank you, Patty.
In #8975, his expression /lift of head seems to be expressing ” After the miserable last few weeks–sunlight and blue sky–AT LAST! “
Maybe he felt the same way I did about it.
How exciting! Fantastic series Ron!!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.
Glad you were fog-bound after all — what a gorgeous creature! I don’t know what I’d do if I found a Bald Eagle hanging out in one of the Chinese Elms in our Cul-de-sac.
I’m guessing that he was turning in order to show you his tail to confirm your suspicions of his being sub-adult. How cooperative! 😉
Hope you get to see him again!
Thanks, Marty. I hope he develops the same habit as the previous eagle and returns from year to year.
Great photos and story Ron. After all the gloomy weather etc you deserved a break and that eagle flew there especially for you. Both Jo Ann and Barbara mentioned Florida eagles. Up till recently I had no idea there were eagles in Florida, but then I read an article about Tarpon Springs being the largest eagle nesting location in the continental U.S. I’ve been to west Florida but never there. Would definitely like to visit sometime to see them. We have eagles and I follow them here as often as possible, but don’t have any trees in my yard high enough to attract one.
Thanks for sharing this one Ron.
Thanks, Everett. I don’t know if I “deserved” the break but I’m truly grateful for it.
Wonderful photos! I never tire of seeing eagles or their photos…so majestic. Really like that tail photo showing the almost total color change. Is there another bird that takes four years to progress to adult plumage? I have had them perch in the tall cottonwoods around my house (with all the branch clutter) and feel truly privileged. The Fox River is about 2 miles as the the crow flies (a favorite fishing spot for eagles) and I will park and watch them swoop in and pluck out a fish. Just breath-taking! 😍
“Is there another bird that takes four years to progress to adult plumage?”
Kathy, it takes Golden Eagles about the same amount of time to become mature adults but the color changes marking their progression from year to year aren’t nearly so obvious.
“Hot damn and hallelujah!”, indeed. Wonderful portraits!
Thanks, Dan. Those were the exact words I used soon after Shane told me about the eagle!
Oh My God, Ron!! I think the eagles felt you needed to be cheered up & sent the Sentry to help you with your funk!!! Thank God your neighbor saw him in your neighbor’s tree!! Your blog is an absolute hit for me today!! Florida is third in Eagle numbers & I’ve yet to see one in the wild so I’m jealous & happy for you at the same time!! Maybe this is a sign of great shooting weather to come?!!
I’m glad Shane saw it too, Jo Ann. And told me about it. Shane likes birds too and both he and his wife pay attention to them. In fact it was his wife who first noticed the eagle and suggested he tell me about it.
I am so glad you got some wonderful pictures of that beauty! I do the dishes daily and look out my kitchen window and watch the birds and just so happened to notice this massive beautiful bird.. I literally ran outside and told Shane and was glad I didn’t spook it. So glad your day got better, Ron. 🤗
Kimmy, I’m constantly watching for birds out my kitchen window too. In fact two days ago I finally filled my bird feeders again so I’ve been watching more than usual. I can easily see most of that tree out my window but I have to scrunch down to see as high in the tree as this eagle was. So I most likely would never have seen it without you and Shane. So thanks for putting a burr under Shane’s saddle and suggesting that he tell me about it.
YES! 🙂 Wonderful photos of the eagle and not even buried in the “twigs”… 😉 Great detail indicating it’s not quite mature even if getting there….. I noticed the beak but not the other clues. We have a couple “around” at present. Flushed them off some road kill the other day (not on the road fortunately) and one in the yard awhile back that a crow/raven flushed out.
Thanks, Judy. Eagles on roadkill always make me nervous for their safety.
Nice.I volunteer with Florida EagleWatch an am currently monitoring 3 eagle nests in the area. The eagle near your house appears to be about 4 years old, based on color of tail feathers and beak. One nest is behind my townhouse and across the street. Everyday I get to see the eagles and their eaglet. Never gets boring. It’s amazing to be walking my dogs and look up to see an eagle flying about 20’ overhead with a fish headed to nest. In their county I live in there are currently 15 active eagle nests!!
Barbara, I envy you your nesting eagles. Very few of them nest in Utah but many of them spend the winter here.
Barbara – Where do you live in Florida? I live in Palm Beach County & I know there are eagles in the area but I’ve never seen them. I know several of the Wetland areas (Green Cay, Okeeheelee, Loxahatchee, Wakodahatchee) don’t have any resident eagles!!! As Ron said – “I envy you”!!!