Sometimes my hunt for pictures of wildlife can be messy… But the returns can be absolutely AWESOME! So worth it! Yesterday in Adams County, Colorado.
Bald Eagle takes flight in sequence of 7 images
For Freedom Friday and your viewing pleasure is this series of images I captured a couple of weeks ago. This gorgeous eagle was perched on what is actually an Osprey nest stand in Colorado’s St Vrain State Park. It allowed me a few nice images of it posing then launched into the air giving me a picture perfect sequence showcasing the extraordinary, graceful flight of these majestic birds. Enjoy and have a great weekend!
Rest in peace, Peter Cottontail
Graphic image but this is nature and wildlife. I snapped this image a couple of weeks ago of a juvenile Bald Eagle and its breakfast. I had been taking pictures of the eagle sitting on a pole when it took off and headed across the prairie.
After driving around a bit more I ended up in the same spot and here came the young raptor with its catch. Not a very good quality pic due to very poor lighting. Taken in Adams County, Colorado.
A return of seasonal raptors
Out for a drive after work yesterday and a sign of the changing seasons. I saw my first Ferruginous Hawks in the area since this past spring as well as a good looking juvenile Bald Eagle.
The Dark Morph Ferruginous is a bit of a ‘white whale’ for me as he / she tormented me last year, never allowing me a great shot of it. Today it at least sat for a bit but the harsh early afternoon light was far from ideal – plus I totally blew its launch. 🙁
The juvy Bald Eagle was one of three I saw but the only one of them to get close.
Bald Eagle predator prepares to pounce
It’s Freedom Friday and today’s pic shows a male Bald Eagle just before it leaps into the air and dives toward the water and its prey. Most notable in this image – to me – are the absolutely impressive talons on this raptor.
Bald Eagles are believed to have a grasp capable of exerting an astonishing 400psi. By comparison, the average human’s hand comes in around 20psi. Needless to say, when an eagle latches on to a rabbit, prairie dog or fish, the prey isn’t very likely to get away.
One happy, grumpy and regal Bald Eagle
Well, he sure looks like all of those things in this series anyway and I was certainly a happy photographer.
It had been a few months since I last visited with this guy so I was absolutely ecstatic to find him in one of his usual spots Saturday. Overcast skies were kind of a bummer but the soft, filtered sunlight of dawn looks nice of this magnificent raptor.
This particular location is in a pretty busy park and as such he is very acclimated to people and seems to just soak in all the attention he receives.
I am slightly concerned in that when I saw him in the early spring, his female friend wasn’t anywhere to be found and this time, again, she wasn’t around. Hopefully nothing has happened to her as they were quite a pair together.
Taken in Longmont, #Colorado. ?
Bald Eagle takes flight
This gorgeous Eagle was hanging out on an Osprey nest stand at St. Vrain State Park, Colorado yesterday. It didn’t hang around long after I arrived but it gave me some great images.
After going more than two months without capturing any quality pictures of these majestic creatures, I finally had some good luck this weekend. Hopefully that is a sign of things to come this fall and winter.
Bald Eagle takes a bow
It is Freedom Friday and that means the pic of the day is of my favorite subject.
This gorgeous fellow was actually preening itself on this day in Longmont, Colorado. In fact, he spent over a half hour meticulously cleaning himself. It was fun to watch but I have to admit, it got boring after a while. 😉
BTW, I have made my final selections for my 2016 Bald Eagle calendar and will be prepping those for printing this weekend. I’ll also have a wildlife calendar (bears, moose, etc) and a raptor one (hawks, falcons, etc). Keep an eye out for an announcement next week.
Regal young Bald Eagle poses for Freedom Friday
A very handsome sub-adult eagle poses for pictures on February 15, 2015 at Cherry Creek State Park, Colorado. This particular eagle was about four years old and very close to completing its transition to the bald eagle’s distinctive white head and dark brown body.
It’s been months since I have seen one of these majestic creatures which is very frustrating. However it won’t be long and they will be returning to the area in greater numbers – something I am very much looking forward to.
Bald Eagle looks down on terrestrial life forms
It’s Freedom Friday and this is a bit of a throwback image to January 2013.
This gorgeous eagle was perched right at the entrance of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge near Denver, Colorado. As it sat surveying the landscape around, it was entirely unaffected by and uninterested in the lowly human that stopped to observe it.
After capturing many pictures from a healthy distance away, it was clear this raptor didn’t mind me one bit so I got closer. Eventually I was almost directly underneath it allowing me to get this image. It only glanced down momentarily at me then continued to look around and more or less ignoring me.
The one thing that strikes me about this image is the talons on the eagle which are clearly seen and drive home the point that this bird is a predator second to none.