Two, count’em TWO, magnificent Golden Eagles right in front of me to choose from but I didn’t even see the one that would have been the best opportunity by far until it was too late. How do you miss seeing a huge Golden Eagle right in front of you and out in the open? Especially when you’re actively searching for birds?
1/3200, f/10, 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
Three days ago in northern Utah I was beginning to head for home after a moderately successful morning of bird photography. From a distance, as I approached this bird on a utility pole, I assumed that it was another Red-tailed Hawk on a pole. Typically I don’t stop for hawks on poles because I don’t like wire and hardware in my photos so I was nearly past this bird when I realized it was a Golden Eagle. I should have noticed the significant size difference earlier but for some reason I didn’t.
I’ll stop for a Golden Eagle, no matter its perch, especially these days with their numbers in significant decline (according to a recent report I read from HawkWatch International). By the time I got my pickup stopped I was much closer to the eagle than I wanted to be, especially for takeoff and flight shots that would give me at least a chance of getting photos that didn’t include wires and hardware.
I was just getting this bird in my viewfinder when another eagle that (unbelievably) I hadn’t seen perched on the ground directly below this eagle took off. How in the world did I miss seeing a huge Golden Eagle perched out in the open, right in front of me and very close??? Not seeing that bird was an epic fail on my part but by now it was too late so all I could do was cuss a blue streak, which I did with enthusiasm, and then get the remaining eagle on the pole in my viewfinder.
1/2500, f/10, 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
Almost immediately that bird took off in pursuit of its companion. The wire going across this eagle’s wing broke my heart but even the ugly wire couldn’t diminish what a huge and magnificent bird this was. This version of the photo is full frame (uncropped) except for a narrow slice I took off of the right side for purposes of composition. With this flight posture I was incredibly lucky to not clip or cut off body parts.
Normally you won’t see me post photos of birds in flight that include poles, wires and other hardware but for a Golden Eagle, in a flight posture like this one, I’ll make an exception.
1/2500, f/10, 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
For reasons that I still don’t understand I’d been having trouble getting sharp shots all morning and this is the sharpest photo I got after the eagle left the vicinity of the pole. There was a wire in this shot too but it didn’t pass in front of the bird so I got rid of the damn thing. I couldn’t bear to post two photos with wires in them.
I was kicking myself in the butt for the entire drive home for not seeing that Golden Eagle on the ground! If I’d seen it in time, and I should have, I’d have stopped my pickup sooner and most likely would have had lots of opportunities for perched shots and eventually takeoff and flight shots.
I’ll get over it but as I’m sure you can tell it hasn’t happened yet.
Ron
What magnificent creatures. Thank you for sharing them. I care for unreleasable education raptors. When I’m out with my big female Red-tailed, someone always asks “Is that an Eagle?” My answer is that when you see an Eagle, you will know it’s an Eagle. No question.
I’m sorry for your frustrating experience. As someone who has never had the pleasure of seeing a Golden Eagle, it is wonderful to enjoy your shots.
I grew up on a farm in Minnesota but don’t know if there were any interesting birds there…..shame on my for not looking.
Thank you for adding pleasure to my world of birds!!
AAARGH! I totally feel your pain about missing the Golden on the ground and having such a magnificent shot (#2) spoiled by the wire. However, any Golden shot is a fabulous shot in my book, so I’m grateful to see these (and a little jealous of your time with them).
Thanks, Marty. I sure wish I’d had a little MORE time with them. I probably only had about 5 seconds with them before both of them flew the coop.
Wow! How wonderful! Great shots Ron!
Charlotte Norton
Thanks, Charlotte.
Totally majestic and marvellous.
I feel for you about the missed shot – and about the wires, but am grateful that you DID see them and shared some of the wonder.
Thank you, EC.
How can you look down when you’re looking at a rare golden eagle on a wire with glee!
Kathleen, while approaching them I should have seen them both. They’re huge birds and they sure weren’t hiding from me.
How magnificent!
Thanks, Arwen.
Ron, you probably know this and I’m off base, but do you think your sharpness issues are related to a need for AF Microadjustments or do you think it’s something else? I can email you my set up for making those if you would like. BTW, I love the shots regardless of the hardware distractions. I saw my first Golden Eagle last year in a canyon in central WA. ‘She’ was majestic soaring overhead in her natural environment. I watched her for about a half hour as I was hiking in her territory.
Nope, I’m sure that isn’t what it was, David. For a variety of reasons.
A Golden Eagle experience like the one you describe is memorable, that’s for sure.
They are so huge! We saw one, traveling by car in Colorado years ago, & it looked like a Seal, sitting on top of a power pole!
I loved your seal analogy, Barbara!
What a special day! Regardless of the wires ,the plumage is beautifully displayed. What do you know about Golden Eagles hanging out together?
“What do you know about Golden Eagles hanging out together?”
Not a lot, John. Here’s one thing that Cornell has to say about it but it looks to me like the eagle I photographed was an adult.
“During winter, pre-adult eagles in Utah often associate with each other and sometimes with Bald Eagles.”
Wow! Seeing three! Even if you only got shots of one and if two of those shots were less than desirable. Nevermind, you saw them and got one super shot and had an experience to remember. Let’s hope that somehow the decline in numbers can be halted or even reversed.
I hope it can be reversed, Granny Pat. But the HWI report I read reported very discouraging results about this year’s Golden Eagle nesting season in the west desert.
Wow Ron how exciting❗️ They are a magnificent looking bird. A golden on a wire… we’ll happily take it 😊
Thank you, Diana.
Ron,
Still a beautiful bird. It is so frustrating to miss the obvious when looking for birds. If I am looking on the road, they are in the bush. If I am looking up, they are on the rocks. Et cetera. I figure I need a driver and a spotter to go with me but… that ain’t going to happen!
You have so many great shots. I haven’t seen many Golden Eagles close enough for a good pic ever so I am happy to see your shots.
Thanks,
Stephen
Yup, you get it Stephen. It’s always frustrating but when it happens with a Golden Eagle , for me it’s far worse than it usually is.
Hate poles and wires, but as you say, you will always stop for a Golden Eagle. Really happy for you that you got that one clear in flight shot. I have never seen a Golden Eagle, but of course definitely would like to.
Missing the Golden on the ground is really a shame. I did the same thing two or three weeks ago. I had just gotten to one of our lakes and as I walked along the shore I saw a couple egrets about 50 yards away and started taking photo of them. Right in front of me sitting on a stump was a Sora who is somewhat of a rare visitor here. Suddenly I saw something flying off below me and it was gone into heavy reeds before I could react. Really ticked me off. And of course it stayed in those reeds forever.
Everett, that’s really too bad about your Sora. I can imagine how much that one hurt. Not many birds are more reclusive than Soras so missing an opportunity like that wouldn’t easily be forgotten.
Any day with a Golden Eagle is a very good day. Getting good, sharp photos makes it a great day. You got one clear of the hardware. That’s a Woohoo! day. Take the win an’ quit yer bellyachin’ for $@!# sakes.
Lyle, I hate to burst your bubble but… a. I didn’t get any sharp shots of this bird. Like I said I had trouble with sharpness all morning – it’s just that at this low resolution the sharpness doesn’t look as bad as it really is at higher resolution. And b., the one you said was clear of the hardware, isn’t – not really. Remember, I had to remove the wire, which I hate to do.
But I agree, any day with a Golden Eagle in it isn’t all bad and two of them is pretty wonderful. I’m glad I found the eagles, great shots or not.
Those are two fabulous shots that anyone would be VERY happy to get !! You beat yourself up to much Ron.
Thanks, Gary. Yeah, I probably do but when it comes to bird photography I guess I’m hard-wired for it.
I am with you in your feelings of awe at finding a Golden Eagle no matter the perch. That flight shot with those talons curled and powerful is stunning.
Golden Eagle talons are impressive aren’t they Suzanne. To the point of intimidation.
DARN! (which I know isn’t what you said 😉 ) Still a beautiful shot even with wires. 🙂 Magnificent creatures!
They must be moving as I’ve seen a couple around (not together) in the last week – one on a power pole and one on the ground (while on the highway of course). I also had to do a double take on ID for whatever reason.
Nope, “darn” wasn’t in my vocabulary that morning. My Montana upbringing gave me plenty of other more colorful (mostly blue) words to use.
I actually saw three Golden Eagles that morning, which was a pleasant surprise after seeing very very few of them all summer.