Wildlife, landscape and weather photography
A fun capture from back in November when I visited a nest under construction.
The pair was hanging out at their perspective home with the male pretty much doing nothing and the female going around gathering sticks. Here, right after launch, she extends her legs and prepares to use her talons to break off a stick.
She wasn’t successful, in fact she totally missed the branch, but I love the action it conveys and of course the look at those meat hook talons.
The sun had just topped the horizon and everything was bathed in yellow. This eagle had been hanging out quite patiently then suddenly decided it was time to take flight.
I wasn’t really expecting it so I used the “spray and pray” method (haha!) when it came to snapping the pics and managed a nice sequence of it. That light was just gorgeous as was the bird.
A magpie snatches a little bit of a young bald eagle’s meal.
Taken a couple of weeks ago at Barr Lake State Park, Colorado State Parks. This young eagle had just caught itself a nice, feathery breakfast (perhaps a goose?). The easy meal did not go unnoticed by the magpie who sauntered right up and helped itself.
While clearly perturbed at the intrusion. the eagle let the little one have a bite without retribution.
This wily one must have been really hungry. It joined the bald eagles out on the ice at Cherry Creek State Park, Colorado this past weekend and seemed to have a fantasy about catching one of the raptors for a meal.
For 10 minutes it circled and multiple times it tried approaching the eagles. Of course the eagles could see the coyote coming a long ways away and any time it would get near, they would simply fly off to a different patch of ice. After a time, the coyote gave up and returned to land to look for a meal elsewhere.
Kind of cruddy pics as these were taken from a long ways away and are heavily cropped but it was a fun bit of interaction to see.
One for #FreedomFriday taken this past weekend.
I initially spotted this gorgeous eagle staking out a spot on the ground in a field, likely hoping for some clueless prairie dog to pop its head up. Having had no luck, it took off and landed on a nearby pole to get a higher view. Not seeing any activity, it then departed, given me this cool shot.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Between now and the end of the year, I will be sharing some photo slideshows I put together of my personal, favorite pictures of the past year.
Anyone who knows me knows well that my favorite photo subject is our national emblem, the bald eagle. I have long had a fascination with this amazing raptor so I oftentimes seek out these amazing creatures. Over the past year I have been privileged to photograph many of them and get some cool captures.
These are my ‘top shots’ from the past year of these majestic creatures.
With the new year, I do have a calendar dedicated to bald eagles. Check it out here.
Boy, who knew bald eagles were superstitious? This awesome young one was taking no chances and hoping to ensure good luck. 😀
These pics were actually taken this past Sunday. I thought my photo excursion was done when I spotted this three-year-old hanging out in a tree having a meal. As I approached, a red tailed hawk came along and scared off the eagle.
It initially headed away but then, much to my pleasure, it circled and came right back toward me. In the process, it gave me a nice look at its breakfast – a lucky day for the eagle, not so much for the rabbit.
Taken in Adams County, Colorado.
Oh how I wish there were blue skies behind this handsome fellow but I love this look enough to where I have to share anyway.
Taken in Jefferson County, Colorado a couple of weeks ago, I was observing a pair of bald eagles that seem to be trying to establish a new nest. My friend spotted them about a quarter mile from the nest site so we went to check them out.
No sooner than did we arrive and the female headed for the nest then the male followed suit. When he flew by, he came directly overhead, not 20 feet above. It was nothing short of awesome having such a close flyover. Clearly he was well aware of me and was checking me out from above.
While I certainly partook in Thanksgiving traditions yesterday afternoon, the morning saw me enjoying a different bird in a much different way.
A friend tipped me off to a pair of bald eagles that seem to be working to establish a new nest in the Colorado Front Range foothills. That of course was an opportunity I couldn’t resist.
With a temperature of only 11 degrees (ugh!), it became a bit uncomfortable to say the least but enduring the elements was well worth it. I spent a couple hours watching this beautiful pair as they hung out at their possible new home.
In this shot, the female launches into the air on her way to grab a stick to add to the nest that is under construction while the male looks on. She did this numerous times, giving me some nice captures. The male, well, he was quite content to just sit and watch her do all the work.
You will notice she has dark streaks on her head which means she isn’t quite fully mature yet. Will that impact their ability to successfully mate? I really don’t know. I have seen younger males have success with fully adult females so perhaps it will work out. I certainly hope so!
Overcast, dim skies are not a photographers friend, particularly when you are trying to get pics of a fast-mover. Such was the case this past Saturday when I came across this eagle at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge.
Despite having to use a slow shutter speed due to the poor light, I was actually able to get a nice series of it as it departed. The clearing skies behind it helped to add some interest versus the cruddy gray that was everywhere else.
