TGIF ! I don’t know about you, but much like this Bald Eagle I am very ready for a bit of freedom and am glad the countdown to the weekend has begun. This majestic raptor was one of many that obliged me with a picture perfect flyby recently. I loved the wing position and the angle as it banked, all accentuated by the crystal clear blue Colorado skies.
Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting, Those kicks were fast as lightning
“Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting, Those kicks were fast as lightning.” For whatever reason this sequence of images reminds me of that old song from the 1970s. 😉 In this series of nine images taken in Fort Collins, Colorado last week, two juvenile Bald Eagles engage in some extraordinary aerial playing. The view of the pair with their legs and talons extended toward each other is captivating.
Mine, mine, mine!
Ring-billed Gull pulls a fish from the ice of a pond in Colorado. I watched it peck away at the thawing ice and eventually pull a shad from it. These gulls can be found across much of North America and are the most common type of gull found in inland areas.
Bald Eagle zen
Bald Eagle zen. Or perhaps yoga? It is always wise to stretch before exercising and that is exactly what this eagle appeared to be doing. Soon after extending and posing like this, it headed off into the sky.
Taken in Thornton, Colorado on Friday, February 6, 2015.
Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk gives a serious look
You may recognize this young hawk from a picture I posted last week of it devouring a mouse whole. This image was taken a bit before it had that meal when it was standing guard near its kill.
Normally Red-tails are pretty skittish and not likely to let you get close but this juvenile was a bit less wise and definitely not willing to leave its meal unguarded. While I and two friends snapped away with our cameras, the hawk seemed a bit annoyed that it had to wait to eat until pictures were done. 😉
Taken along the South Platte River in Thornton, Colorado.
Photos capture extraordinary acrobatics by juvenile Bald Eagle
Between taking turns diving at fish in a suburban pond, two juvenile Bald Eagles participated in some amazing aerial playtime Sunday. For several minutes I was privileged enough to watch the pair perform a ballet in the sky as they chased each other.
When I got home and processed my images I was excited to see that I captured an extraordinary sequence that comprised less than two seconds.
In it, one juvenile comes in fast and banks hard to maneuver in above and behind its playmate. As it does, the lower eagle actually rolls over in mid-air, turning its back to the ground and talons into the air to face the challenger. The eagle coming from above decides to abort its attacking maneuver and the lower eagle easily rotates back into a normal flying orientation.
The action took place toward the sun so shadows were strong and lighting tough for pictures but I am happy to have captured the extraordinary action nevertheless. Images taken near Fort Collins, Colorado.
View each picture in the sequence below.
They’re back! Great Horned Owls return to nest for the season
I’ve been keeping an eye on a local Great Horned Owl nest but hadn’t seen any activity this year. As mating season has already started I was concerned the pair that was there last year and had three owlets had moved on.
Today I was very happy to find mom sitting in the nest catching a nap. I looked around and couldn’t find dad but I am sure he has to be nearby. I’ll be looking forward to documenting the family through this spring and sharing the pics on here.
Bald Eagle banks hard
This mature eagle was performing a flyover of a pond when it spotted a fish of interest and banked hard and dived for the water. Despite their massive size, their agility and speed is amazing. Since Friday I have taken over 1,000 images of these amazing raptors thanks to an opportunity to go where a number of them were very active. This shot is one of my favorites.
Scroll down below the main image for more photos from the day with the eagles.
Juvenile Bald Eagle Does a Dash and Dine
Following some unseasonably warm weather, this suburban pond near Fort Collins, Colorado is beginning to thaw. As it does, it is revealing a lot of dead fish that had been frozen in the ice. The event did not go unnoticed by area Bald Eagles as they have been enjoying the easy pickings. Here a juvenile comes in for the grab and makes a fast retreat with its meal.
Scroll down below the main image to view the entire sequence.
Gotcha!
A Bald Eagle heads off with its catch. Getting a perfectly timed picture of an eagle snagging a fish is extremely challenging. Unless you’ve seen it, it is hard to imagine how fast the entire sequence happens as the raptor swoops in, sometimes at 30+ mph, and in a split second thrusts its talons into the water and makes off with its meal. This image was taken yesterday morning near Fort Collins, Colorado. While I missed the actual ‘grab,’ I did manage a decent shot as it headed out.