Well, it's that time of year again... We've had a string of beautiful Autumn days and the eagle migration is on. I made two trips last week, arriving both times before sunrise, only to find at least 50 photographers already there. By the time I left, cars were parked in every spot and on the side of the road going up the hill at the exit. Split among the two days, I got some keepers.
First, let's look at the crowd and the gear.
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| The Crowd Awaits |
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| How Much Money? |
Here's a flyover from the first trip, a nearly-mature eagle with a fish. I like the mottled colors, dark tips of the tail feathers, fish, and light shining through.
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| Light Shining Through Tail Feathers |
Here's one where the eagle has just plunged its talons into the water.
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| Aaaand Strike! |
Here's a shot in dawn sunlight with a bloody fish.
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| Bloody Fish |
I got lots of shots of flying eagles with fish. But this year I seem to like the shots where the eagle is just at the moment of striking.
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| Fish In Danger |
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| Got It |
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| Maneuvering for the Strike |
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| Got It |
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| About to Strike |
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| Taking a Look at the Victim |
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| On the Way to a Tree for Lunch |
This year I did some experimentation, using manual exposure, changing settings during the day, being much more selective in the shots that I take. It was a lot of fun, especially with the numerous chances to watch mid-air bird fights. Sadly they were all too far away to shoot, but it was entertaining.
