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Gorgeous golden eagle returns to its winter roost

November 23, 2019 by Tony Leave a Comment

Gorgeous golden eagle returns to its winter roost
A golden eagle keeps watch over a field in Boulder County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

It has been since February that I last saw the golden eagles at this spot in Boulder County, Colorado. I had just about given up hope, thinking they had moved on. Two weekends ago I finally saw them again and then again this past weekend.

As always, it was pretty uncooperative when it came to pictures, hanging out well-buried within a tree’s branches initially. After an hour it took flight, naturally at an angle that prevented me getting pics. It did then roost for a few minutes on top of a utility pole giving me a few more poses though.

Hopefully it will continue to hang out in this spot and I will get more photo ops with it.

A golden eagle keeps watch over a field in Boulder County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A golden eagle keeps watch over a field in Boulder County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Golden eagle portrait for Freedom Friday

October 25, 2019 by Tony Leave a Comment

Profile of a gorgeous golden eagle (captive). (© Tony’s Takes)

An absolutely impressive and stunning creature! The golden eagle is the largest bird of prey in North America and one of the largest worldwide. I love bald eagles as everyone knows but golden eagles, my goodness, they are, dare I say, just a bit more impressive.

This one, Aurora, is a captive bird that suffered a broken wing. While it can fly, it can’t get lift and as such isn’t a candidate for release in the wild and is now in the care of Nature’s Educators.

An event at their facility gave me a great opportunity to get up close and personal and get some nice closeups. It also gave me a nice chance to use my Tamron Lenses USA SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 which I love for the amazing detail it allows me to capture.

Golden eagles enjoy some pre-Valentine’s Day “recreation”

February 14, 2019 by Tony

Ah yes, it is the day for lovers and this pair was getting started a bit early this past Sunday.

The images of the activity are, quite frankly, pretty poor and I was very disappointed in them. Light was very low, there was a lot of haze / fog and the eagles were just too far off. Nevertheless, I share them because it was a very fun encounter and something I had not witnessed with goldens before. I suspect very few people have in fact.

When I arrived at this spot in the Colorado foothills, the make was perched alone and on a different post. Not two minutes later, she arrived, circling him twice then landing on the other pole. That, apparently, was all the invitation he needed. They mated twice over the next few hours.

The first image in this series is from the first time and the poorest quality pic. However, the symmetry of their positions is pretty neat and something I was happy to have captured. The rest of the images are from their second attempt when lighting was slightly better.

Golden eagles enjoy some pre-Valentine’s Day “recreation”
Mating golden eagles in the foothills of Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
Mating golden eagles in the foothills of Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
Mating golden eagles in the foothills of Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
Mating golden eagles in the foothills of Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
Mating golden eagles in the foothills of Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
Mating golden eagles in the foothills of Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
Mating golden eagles in the foothills of Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
Mating golden eagles in the foothills of Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
Mating golden eagles in the foothills of Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Golden eagle takes to the skies

January 16, 2019 by Tony

A golden eagle prepares to take flight in Boulder County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A golden eagle prepares to take flight in Boulder County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

What a charmed day this was. It had been nearly a year since I saw a golden eagle at this spot in Colorado’s Front Range foothills. Honestly, I had just about given up, thinking the ones that used to hang out there had moved on for good.

This past Sunday though I was very excited to find not one, not two, but three goldens all within a half mile of each other. Two of them were perched on adjacent poles.

I spent more than an hour watching and waiting for them to do something other than just looking handsome. Finally, the closest one took off and I was lucky to grab a number of images as it did. It truly was an impressive sight.

Golden Eagles are one of the continent’s largest raptors with a wingspan of up to seven feet. It’s hard to imagine just how big they are until you see one in person.

A golden eagle takes flight in Boulder County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A golden eagle takes flight in Boulder County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A golden eagle takes flight in Boulder County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A golden eagle takes flight in Boulder County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A golden eagle takes flight in Boulder County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A golden eagle takes flight in Boulder County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A golden eagle takes flight in Boulder County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A golden eagle takes flight in Boulder County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
Golden eagle takes to the skies
A golden eagle takes flight in Boulder County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Golden Eagle dines on rabbit

December 12, 2018 by Tony

A Golden Eagle keeps watch on its meal while Magpies hope for leftovers. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Golden Eagle keeps watch on its meal while Magpies hope for leftovers. (© Tony’s Takes)

I haven’t had much luck finding any of these massive raptors in recent months so when I happened across this one recently, I was very happy.

It was a long ways out in a fenced off field but I took advantage of the opportunity to grab some pics as it ate breakfast. The eagle had snagged itself a rabbit and was enjoying the meal while the Magpies hung out, hoping for leftovers.

Once it was done, it briefly landed in a nearby tree giving me my best shot of the series. Otherwise, the images weren’t all that great but it was well worth the time to stop and watch.

A Golden Eagle enjoys a meal near the South Platte River in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Golden Eagle enjoys a meal near the South Platte River in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Golden Eagle keeps watch on its meal while Magpies hope for leftovers. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Golden Eagle keeps watch on its meal while Magpies hope for leftovers. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Golden Eagle keeps watch on its meal while Magpies hope for leftovers. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Golden Eagle keeps watch on its meal while Magpies hope for leftovers. (© Tony’s Takes)
Golden Eagle dines on rabbit
A Golden Eagle hangs out near the South Platte River in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Golden Eagle keeps close watch on the photographer

October 18, 2018 by Tony

Golden #Eagle keeps close watch on the #photographer. Oh, my friend, where are you? This gorgeous eagle…
A Golden Eagle keeps close watch on the photographer from above. (© Tony’s Takes)

Oh, my friend, where are you? This gorgeous eagle that hangs out in the Colorado Front Range foothills has given me many great captures over the last few years. You have in turn seen it via those images.

Unfortunately, it has now been eight months since I last spotted it and I’ve been to the area at least a dozen times. I’m not ready to give up yet though. Seeing the massive raptor was never a sure thing so I am hoping I just have had bad timing.

This particular image was taken almost one year ago on November 4, 2017.

These eagles are one of the largest and fastest raptors in North America. With wingspans that can exceed seven feet across and capable of speeds to 200mph, they are nothing short of impressive. It is little wonder that they are the most common official national animal in the world with Albania, Germany, Austria, Mexico, and Kazakhstan all choosing it to represent them.

Golden Eagle in the wake of a Colorado snowstorm

February 11, 2018 by Tony Leave a Comment

I hadn’t seen my golden-maned buddy the last few times I was in the area so I was happy he decided to show today. Unfortunately his chosen perch was a good ways away and with temperatures in the single digits, he was in no rush go anywhere.

I spent a half hour with him waiting for him to do something, then left for an hour, came back, and he was still in the same spot. After another half hour I gave up but it was really cool to see him again.

More of my pics of these massive raptors can be found here.

A Golden Eagle perched on a pole on a cold Colorado morning. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Golden Eagle perched on a pole on a cold Colorado morning. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Golden Eagle perched on a pole on a cold Colorado morning. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Golden Eagle perched on a pole on a cold Colorado morning. (© Tony’s Takes)

Golden Eagle gets its portrait taken

January 9, 2018 by Tony Leave a Comment

Such an absolutely stunning raptor! I’ve been quite close to a Golden in the wild before and their size is something that is hard to appreciate if you haven’t been near one. However, this past weekend I took part in an event that let me get within just a few feet of one and, well, wow!

A local wildlife photographer group arranged for a visit with Nature’s Educators, a non-profit group that does public outreach events to educate the public on wildlife. Most of the animals in the group’s care cannot be released into the wild for a variety of reasons. Such is the case with Tempest.

This 34-year-old eagle was illegally taken from her nest as a hatching by someone who thought she would make a good pet. That of course did not work out and due to it having been ‘imprinted’ by humans, she could not be released into the wild. To say she is stunning would be an understatement.

The event gave me an opportunity to try out my latest lens, a Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 G2 and as you can see, the results were quite impressive! The lens captured the extraordinary detail of this bird and opening it up to f2.8 really helped blow out the background and ensure it wasn’t a distraction.

Close-up portrait of Tempest, a captive Golden Eagle.  (© Tony’s Takes)
Close-up portrait of Tempest, a captive Golden Eagle. (© Tony’s Takes)
Close-up portrait of Tempest, a captive Golden Eagle.  (© Tony’s Takes)
Close-up portrait of Tempest, a captive Golden Eagle. (© Tony’s Takes)

Golden Eagle in hot pursuit of a meal

November 15, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

I found this good friend of mine in one of its favorite spots in the Colorado foothills this past weekend. It spent more than an hour sitting, waiting and observing but finally it started to get anxious and then took off like a bat out of hell. It flew at mach one down the hill (this image), across the highway and hit the ground hard and fast attacking a prairie dog. That final action was too far away to get pics of and, unfortunately for the eagle, it missed on its strike. Nevertheless, it was an impressive display.

These eagles are one of the largest and fastest raptors in North America. With wingspans that can exceed seven feet across and capable of speeds to 200mph, they are nothing short of impressive. It is little wonder that they are the most common official national animal in the world with Albania, Germany, Austria, Mexico, and Kazakhstan all choosing it to represent them.

A Golden Eagle takes flight across clear, blue skies in the Colorado foothills. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Golden Eagle takes flight across clear, blue skies in the Colorado foothills. (© Tony’s Takes)

A wary, watchful Golden Eagle

September 15, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

It has been a while since I have seen my friend – in fact it has been since early spring. I was thinking about her this morning and hoping that she reappears soon. On this particular day back in April, she put on a nice little show for me. There were plenty of flight shots but she also took a break on one of her favorite overlooks, a pole on a hillside, where she kept close watch on the goings on.

If you’ve never seen a golden, you are missing an extraordinary treat. They are clearly just gorgeous but more impressive is their sheer size.

A Golden Eagle keeps watch from its perch in Boulder County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Golden Eagle keeps watch from its perch in Boulder County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
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