The last time I was in the Wasatch Mountains I had a brief window of opportunity to photograph an adult Golden Eagle in flight.
Adult Golden Eagle in flight in the Wasatch Mountains – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
For a change, this eagle was actually pointed out to me. I couldn’t see it through the roof of the vehicle that I was a passenger in and couldn’t see it at first..
The Golden Eagle had flown down the slope of a mountain to my right and by the time I was aware of the eagle it had crossed the road and flown out over a sagebrush dotted hillside.
It isn’t unusual for me to see Golden Eagles in the Wasatch Mountains but more often than not I am not able to get photos of them so I was happy that I was able to take a few photos of this adult.
The Golden Eagle flew over the canyon and landed in a large conifer on the other side. I wish I’d seen this large raptor when it was closer and that it had stayed close instead of flying so far away before it landed.
Golden Eagles nest as early as February in northern Utah so this adult may have been searching for food for its young. There are plenty of rabbits, ground squirrels and other small mammals in the area that it could feed to its young.
I always enjoy seeing Golden Eagles whether they are on the wing, perched on a rocky cliff, or chasing after prey. They are gorgeous, majestic birds and and I love having them in my viewfinder.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Golden Eagle photos plus facts and information about this species.
Wow, how nice you found him anyway. Thanks.
Hi Mia ~ I perked up when I saw your Golden Eagle notification. I am currently following a live stream of a GOEA nest in Romania! It is on YouTube if you want to take a peek. There are only two known nests there so quite rare. It is in a dense forest so they are using solar panels to charge the camera. Usually the camera cuts out when it gets dark there. Here is the link if you want to see it. There is only one chick, born in the first week of May. https://youtu.be/1HhGB–X1CI
Cheer,
Ann
Majestic and marvellous.
My heart soars with them….
It is always nice to see them. There has been a few that live there all year and must breed nearby.
What a rewarding moment behind the lens! Also, I’ll cheat a little, since comments are closed on the coyote and sandhills… just wanted to say that was an extraordinary story, a fascinating glimpse into the natural world. Thank you!