Four year old Bald Eagle covered in hoar frost in heavy fogFour year old Bald Eagle covered in hoar frost in heavy fog – Nikon D200, f5.6, 1/320, ISO 400, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

This past week or so I have written about how harsh winters can be on birds in northern Utah. How the birds are often covered in hoar frost first thing in the morning like this four year old Bald Eagle I photographed in a heavy lake fog in January of 2010. This was the first image I took of the Bald Eagle that morning at 8:45 am. It was roosting on an old post very near the road and some open water. Practically every feather had hoar frost on it and as I recall the temps were in the teens or even lower.

Bald Eagle covered in hoar frostBald Eagle covered in hoar frost – Nikon D200, f10, 1/320, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
(45 minutes after the first image)

I have mentioned in my post “So ya think ya want to be a bird photographer” that you have to have patience. Well, some times you have to be a little crazy too. Sitting for two hours with a Bald Eagle as it slowly warms up and waiting until the hoar frost melts IS a little crazy, isn’t it?

Four year old Bald Eagle nearly defrostedFour year old Bald Eagle nearly defrosted – Nikon D200, f7.1,  1/800, ISO 250, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 350mm, natural light, not baited
(An hour and a half after the first image)

Sitting in a very cold vehicle with the windows down because you don’t know what might disturb the eagle or when it might take flight because it is right next to a road and traffic is going past the eagle is a bit crazy too. It was cold enough that my feet started getting numb and the hand warmers in my gloves may as well have been blocks of ice. When the fog lifted and the warmth of the sun fell on the Bald Eagle’s dark feathers the frost melted and the eagle preened and called.

Four year old Bald Eagle about to flyFour year old Bald Eagle about to fly – Nikon D200, f8, 1/800, ISO 250, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 228mm, natural light, not baited

After an hour and fifty-five minutes the four year old Bald Eagle displayed some signs that it would soon be lifting off because it pooped, scratched, shook its feathers, and appeared to give us a stare.

Four year old Bald eagle in flightFour year old Bald eagle in flight – Nikon D200, f8 1/800, ISO 250, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 228mm, natural light, not baited

At exactly 2 hours from the time we started photographing the Bald Eagle it took flight at 10:45 am. We waited two hours for the Bald Eagle to take flight and I got 9 frames of the eagle from lift off to flight and clipped 5 of those.

Patience is absolutely a must for bird photographers and it doesn’t hurt to throw a little crazy in the mix too.

Yes, I am addicted to bird photography.

Mia

To view more of my Bald Eagle photos plus facts and information about this species click here.