Golden Eagles give me buck fever.
Three days ago, as I drove over a hill in a remote area of northern Utah soon after dawn, I saw two Golden Eagles cavorting low in the sky on my left. They were calling out to each other as they circled so I actually heard them before I saw them. They were on the east (wrong) side of the road and backlit so I decided to stop on the road and hope against hope that they’d cross it into better light.
They did better than that. They not only crossed the road, they landed on some cliffy rocks in excellent light. So I drove down the road, turned around, and came back for them so I could photograph them out my driver’s side window. If they stayed put.
One of the eagles flew off before I got my pickup stopped but this one stuck. ‘She’ was perched on a rocky outcrop with a mountain behind her and she continued to call out intermittently to her companion who had apparently landed somewhere on the mountain to the west where I couldn’t see it.
I’d have given both my shutter finger and my nose-picking finger if she’d been closer but she was close enough for acceptably good photos if she took off, so that’s what I waited for.
Other than calling out to the other eagle she seemed pretty content where she was so I had to wait awhile before she took off. When she eventually did she launched in an almost perfect direction for takeoff and flight shots.
Just look at those crazy pantaloons. To me her legs almost look like they belong to a bear. Or a wolverine.
Liftoff.
If I’d been closer this would be one of my favorite Golden Eagle photos of all time, if for no other reason than her unusual flight posture. She was reaching for every molecule of air she could scoop with her wings and her tail in order to get her 10 lb. body airborne so her wings are in a perfectly vertical position and her tail is nearly vertical. In the next instant…
her wings and tail came down to provide every ounce of lift possible.
And she was on her way. I cropped this photo as I did for her shadow.
She hugged the ground as she flew because her intention was to…
land on another rocky outcrop not far away.
Here’s a full frame (uncropped) version of the previous photo to give viewers a better sense of habitat. And a better sense of how much I’ve had to crop most of these photos.
I stayed with her for quite a while but I could tell she wasn’t going anywhere soon. She continued to call to her companion who was somewhere on the mountain behind her but she usually had her back to me so eventually I drove down the road to look for other birds.
47 minutes later when I returned to the same area she was still there but on a different outcrop. And she was calling out almost constantly to the other eagle that I could occasionally hear but not see.
I rarely shoot video (at my focal lengths without using a tripod my videos are always shaky) but I decided to do it anyway and see if I could capture her calling. If you’re interested in experiencing what I experienced here’s a link to the short video. The quality isn’t good but you’ll be able to see and hear her calling.
Ron
PS – Readers know that Golden Eagles get me excited and when I have buck fever I can do stupid things. While I was with this eagle the second time I decided to pull my pickup forward to get a better shooting angle if she decided to take off. This is what happened when I forgot to turn video off as I was trying to drive my pickup forward at the same time I was still holding my lens partially out the window with my left hand. Stupid is as stupid does.
Wow! That 4th one is a gem
Thanks for the 1st video. Have not heard a GE call before.
Second one made me queasy. 😜
“Second one made me queasy’
It kinda does that to me too.
The 6th one is my favorite, but they are all spectacular.
Thank you, Jimmy.
Forgetting to turn off your video camera – doesn’t impress me. How about someone forgetting to turn off her zoom camera during a work meeting as she tries to figure out the difference between her shutter finger and her nose-picking finger?
More importantly: what a majestic bird.
You’re right, Frances. My faux pas doesn’t hold a candle to your “someone’s”… 🙂
Oh, I dig those crazy pantaloons and the lift-off shots, but that cropped one with her standing so proudly and purposefully on her rocky territory really appeals. Can’t help but wonder why her man didn’t see the error of his ways and return to her? Ha. Such a gorgeous raptor.
I know others think Bald Eagle calls are “wimpy” or whatever, but I’ve come to appreciate their trumpets, bugles and chortles—and I should be so lucky to hear a Golden calling live and in-person someday. So thanks for that video (both of them, in fact)! Was surprised second one didn’t include some NSFW language. 😉
“Was surprised second one didn’t include some NSFW language.”
Chris, I guess I was concentrating too much on getting into place and getting her back in my viewfinder again to swear. I just knew she was going to fly off before I got her in focus again.
Wow, what a gorgeous series. We have Goldens around but I’ve never been lucky enough to see them. I can see where these are your favorite.
Well it’s another rainy & windy day here in Sacramento😏
Another windy and partly cloudy day here, Diana. Thanks.
There is nothing like your take off photos to show that huge wingspan.
The R5 has a good set of ears to pick up those calls.
Thanks, Lyle. The R5 has a good set of a lot of things. Complicated but good.
I’ve never heard a Golden Eagle vocalize before. Slightly less whiny than a Bald. Great series.
Thanks, Ann.
The photo of her with wings and tail up is incredible. I realized I was hunching forward to push down as I looked at her. My favorite also.
“I realized I was hunching forward to push down as I looked at her.”
That made me smile, Catherine.
I’ve only seen a few Golden Eagles….Colorado & Idaho…they are so huge & gorgeous! Their vocalizing just seems so wimpy, for such a magnificent bird! Loved the bumpy video, showing the steepness of that landscape. It did remind me of the rough rides over roadless terrain my son took me on, in his old Suburban, in eastern Washington!
Wimpy vocalizing indeed, Barbara. I think it’s both silly and cute.
Great shots. I love the upward tail at take off. At least we got a good look at habitat in your moving video. Hopefully they will be successful. I think they were last year. In the area last fall there were a pair with a juvenile. The juvenile was calling constantly for food. The parents seem to be encouraging the young to come to an area were they were flying and landing. I wondered if there was a dead dear on the ledge. It looked like they were eating something out of sight.
Thanks, April. Yes, it’s a good area for Goldens. I hope it stays that way.
Too funny Ron. That last video looked like some Buster Keaton movie from the silent film era. I have a video setting on my camera that I never use, but from time to time when I am putting my photos onto the computer I find a couple accidental videos taken when I am on that setting, but thinking I am on another.
Love seeing all your Golden photos. Those are very special birds.
How many photos have you shown over the years of birds on those same lichen covered rocks?
Thanks, Everett. I’m not sure how many but probably only a time or two.
What a glorious bird… I especially liked the shot that you cropped in order to feature her shadow–really dynamic ! I was surprised that I heard no cussing
in that second video……
I’m surprised too, Kris. Maybe I’m slowing down in my old age.
WOW! Wonderful series – those pantaloons ARE something. Magnificnet bird. 🙂 Noisey one at that! 😉 Suspect the 2nd video will take some serious editing…. 😉 Saw one on road kill a few days back – didn’t stop as results of that are predictable.
Happy Birthday to Shannon! Appears weather here is going to be crappy for a few days starting with high wind today and then snow……
Judy, how in the world did you know of, or remember, Shannon’s birthday? It’s a big one for her – 50. And for me, to have a daughter half a century old.
Shannon & I share a B-Day….. 😉 You know you’re getting old when! The time does slip away. Glad she’s here to celebrate it. 🙂
Then Happy Birthday to you my friend!
I didn’t know you were both Pi babies! Happy birthday to you, Judy, and to Shannon! 🥧🥧
She’s a beaut! You got some great wing-flingage shots too. I appreciate being able to hear her calling her mate. I’d throw in my nose-picking finger as well to have had her a bit closer — and to get the opportunity to spend an hour or so with such a magnificent creature.
I’m impressed that you managed to get her in frame in the “bobble” video too. That’s a photographer! 😉 ❤️
Thanks, Marty. At my focal lengths it can be a challenge to get any subject in the viewfinder.
Lovely shots of the Golden Eagle. And a wonderful treat to ride along with you down the road! Nice sound also on the eagle.
Thanks, Brett. You, a video expert, must have winced when you watched mine.
No wincing. I’ve made the same error countless times.
What amazing photos of such a powerful bird in that habitat. Love to hear her call in the videos. Hopefully no lenses were harmed!
Nope, no lenses were harmed but my pride took a hit. Thanks, Mary.
Gosh, I would love to see one of those. Don’t have those in Ohio. That’s why I love your photos!
Connie, Golden Eagles are #1 on my list of desirable avian subjects. I hate to play favorites but…