It’s been a while, a long while, but yesterday morning I finally got back into the field again. An adult Golden Eagle in flight was one of my rewards.
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
I spotted ‘her’ perched on top of a ridgeline in a remote area of northern Utah and I got a few shots of her while she was there but she was far away so I decided to take a chance and attempt to move to a closer vantage point. All I could do was hope she wouldn’t take off while I was slowly driving toward her with my lens still sitting in my lens caddy. A Golden Eagle flying by close to me while I had my proverbial pants down would be my version of the ultimate frustration.
She waited until I got my pickup stopped but just barely- she launched a split second before I was able to raise my lens and lock focus on her. Thankfully I got her in focus very soon after she took off.
She flew along the top of the ridgeline for long enough to allow me to get 47 shots of her in flight and many of them were sharp or sharp enough, with no clipped or cut off body parts. This is one of my favorites, in part because it includes some of the sagebrush directly below her. In many of my photos of her I had nothing but blue sky in the background.
I count myself lucky if I get a single quality photo of a Golden Eagle once per year so to get that many flight shots I like after being confined at home for so long was a thrill. And yes, assuming I remember how to cull and process photos, you’re likely to see more of them sometime soon.
Ron
Very nice, Ron! Glad to see you were able to get out and take this.
Thank you, Rich.
Congrats on a winning shot of a magnificent bird!
Somehow I missed this in my inbox this morning…and I was a tad worried about you, so am very glad I scrolled back thru the list to find this super-early arrival. And what a find! Happy for you and this gorgeous Golden Eagle to meet up at a most fortuitous moment! Just don’t overdo the culling and processing before you’ve given yourself a good rest…but I do look forward to seeing more of her. 😎
Yeah, it was an early post, Chris. I’m still not sleeping well so my nights are very short. Thank you.
Thank you Ron. Good to know you’re feeling better.
Thanks, Michelle.
Awesome! On all accounts, so awesome – you are able to get out, get some photos, and to share this wonderful bird in flight. Thank you again for sharing! It is always a delight
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Sandra.
Glad you felt good enough to get out there and give it a go. That you encountered this little beauty must say something about your lucky stars.
Perhaps it does. Thanks, Granny Pat.
WOW! What a wonderful photo shoot on top of just “getting back out there”! 🙂
“heat wave” as in +34 and no wind today……;)
No wind is the best part of that report, isn’t it Judy.
Yep! 😉
Nice shot, and a good omen.
Thanks, Michael.
How wonderful – that you got out in the first place and that you (and we) were greeted with this beauty. Looking forward to more.
I’m pretty sure there will be more EC, probably in a few days. Thanks.
Wonderful start to my morning. The Golden was the perfect ambassador to greet you. I echo other comments about just how large these birds are. What a great shot — the colors and form are perfect.
Much appreciated, Kathryn.
Your post made the weekend! The shadows cast by parts of the wings on other parts and the body gave a sense of depth that is hard to get in a flying raptor. Glad you’re back in the saddle!
Thanks very much, Kent.
Thank you for the perfect balm after a rough night and morning with my current foster dog. She had major knee surgery and any sedation she might have been under has completely worn off. I’m supposed to keep her as still as possible, but she’s a loon (and not one of the cute Canadian ones)! She’s finally stopped trying to break out of her crate. 🙄
Definitely looking forward to some more shots of this stunning example of one of my top 3 favorite birds!💜
Good luck with the pooch, Marty! Sounds like you’re going to need it.
She finally chilled out a little which is good because I had to teach a dog training class at the spca this afternoon. I’m enjoying still being able to do a little teaching and 10 students is MUCH better than 37! 😉 She had her dinner and her 4 pm meds, so she’s having a little snoozle now. She just doesn’t understand why she can’t be her usual ebullient self right now. 💕
She’s an Aussie or similar? I know how rambunctious they can be…so good luck to you both for a quick recovery! 🐕🐾
Oooh, just saw your reply below to Judy, she’s a pittie! Strong and lovable, I’m sure! 😉
Our BC went berzerk coming out of anesthesia from her spay – REAL challenge to get her in a corner and contained…….hope the worst is over and she didn’t do any damage!
Ooh, that’s rough, Judy. I’ve seen it after some of the surgeries I help with at the spca. Thanks for your good wishes. She’s in a soft splint, so I think she’s OK. She’s a 6 year-old pitbull and full of energy and LOVE, so she doesn’t get why she can’t just be next to me and my hubby (OK, why she can’t be in our laps giving kisses) all the time. I’ve also been doing a lot of dog fostering the past year, so there are tons of smells inside and in the yard. She wants to sniff them all NOW, which she can’t because she isn’t supposed to be on her leg much.
Beautiful photograph of this beautiful eagle, Ron. I love how the photo captures the detail and curve of the wings.
Thanks, Ed. You and I both had some luck with a Golden Eagle recently.
What a nice surprise to see you and the photo of the Golden Eagle this morning. Nice you could get out and travel for a while.
Thank you, Trudy.
A very nice welcome back for you from Mother Nature.
Agreed. Thanks, John.
You’ve still got it!! Beautiful detail in this photo.
Thank you, Mary.
Very glad you were able to get out and “she” rewarded you by playing a little hard to get but not too hard.
She was hard enough, Catherine. This time I got lucky.
Outstanding photo to illustrate just what a remarkable wingspan they have. So glad you are getting out there. Have always enjoyed the Golden photos since I have never seen one.
I am running into more of our local guys and gals carrying the R5. Most really like it although most admit that they certainly have not yet learned all that it can do.
Hope the back is coming along well.
“although most admit that they certainly have not yet learned all that it can do”
That applies to me too, Everett. I probably never will.
Glad to see you back in the saddle Ron. Take it easy and ease back into it !!
Great flight shot. Perhaps post some more ?
“Perhaps post some more?”
I plan on it, Gary.
Beautiful! Glad you are out and about.
Thanks, Brett.
Great to see you pop up in my email this morning. Having this Golden Eagle appear must have seemed like an old friend came to greet you. And Golden he is: it looks like he has a touch of gold on his throat as well
Lyle, I love it when I have good light on their golden nape and it shows up as well as it does in this shot.
Beautiful shot of a magnificent bird and species.
Thanks, Dick.
I’m so happy to “see you” again, and doubly delighted that you got a good reward for your effort ! There’s something about seeing only one of her
wings fully extended that emphasizes just how HUGE AND LONG that
wing is–in relation to the eagle’s body–when they’re both visible, the
enormous SPAN of them is so impressive, you can’t focus on anything else !
Kris, I agree with your evaluation of the advantage to the viewer of the relative wing positions of this bird. It’s something that popped out at me right away.
Gotta love those rewards! Great shot!
Thank you, Cindy.
Just beautiful, Ron. And great to see you’re getting back out there!
Cathy, getting “back out there” is still touch and go but I sure enjoyed it yesterday.
The shot is sublime, of course! But for me, the real joy comes from your taking a fledgling flight. You’ll be soaring in no time, Ron, the very best news for you and all of your followers. Congratulations!
Much appreciated, Nanci.
Glad you got out, Ron– your efforts really paid off. Look foreword to some more great shots from this encounter.
Thanks, Kenneth.