Bald Eagle on a leaning wooden post – January 2, 2022 – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
If you go to Bear River MBR during the winter chances are that you have or will see a Bald Eagle perched on this large wooden post at one time or another. The wooden post attracts other birds and I have photographed them on it but it is the Bald Eagles I see there that draw me the most. The post is a bit of a distance from the road that leads to the auto tour route so larger birds like the eagles on it are easier to spot and photograph.
When I spotted this adult Bald Eagle on the leaning post two days ago I was glad that no one else was at that spot. On my previous trip up to the refuge there were already four vehicles parked there as the occupants photographed and observed a Bald Eagle on the old wooden post. I didn’t take any photos that morning and the eagle had flown off by the time I passed this spot on my way home.
Adult Bald Eagle on a leaning wooden post – January 2, 2022 – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
I struggled with heat wave distortion while I photographed this Bald Eagle on the leaning post two days ago. I took a lot of photos of the eagle hoping that a few would be sharp enough to meet my standards and that paid off. I saw a low of 3°F that morning and heat from under the vehicle and escaping from inside it wreaked havoc on my image quality.
I was delighted to get a few sharp shots of the Bald Eagle perched on the old, leaning wooden post that I was happy with.
Bald Eagle on a leaning wooden post – January 1, 2016 – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/500, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
I took this image of a Bald Eagle on the leaning wooden post on New Year’s Day of 2016. The sun had just risen and the eagle seemed to glow in the golden light of sunrise. I had switched my Nikon D810 to FX mode, or full frame mode, so I could include a lot of of the marsh habitat in my photos of this eagle.
One of my favorite photos that I took of this Bald Eagle on that day were used by National Audubon in print and online in an article about hotspots for photographing Bald Eagles.
Bald Eagle on a leaning wooden post – March 1, 2010 – Nikon D200, f22, 1/80, ISO 400, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited
In March of 2010 at the end of my first winter in Utah I photographed a Bald Eagle on the iconic wooden post. While I photographed this eagle I played with my depth of field and shot it at f6.3 up to f22 to illustrate what changing the depth of field can make in the appearance of our photos. I had fun writing a post about those differences and photographing that Bald Eagle.
Since it is still early in the winter season I may have more opportunities to photograph more Bald Eagles on this leaning post this winter. It is my hope that if or when I do that I am not battling heat wave distortion.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Bald Eagle photos plus facts and information about this species.
What a magnificent bird. Great pics. Thanks Mia.
They truly are majestic…
What gorgeous shots. The 2016 one is truly magical.
Awe and wonder. That wooden post must be an old and valued friend by now.
This post is leaning towards the ground more every year. Who do we get to replace it when it falls? Like the old dead cottonwood in Farmington Bay, eagle images have never been the same since it fell over.
Less than perfect they may be sometimes but for those of us who would otherwise never see them, they are still glorious so thanks for sharing these gorgeous imperfect with us.
You have to wonder if it is the same Bald Eagle. Beautiful shots!