Bald Eagle adult resting on ice in bright light – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
Earlier this week I took a few adult Bald Eagle on ice photos at Bear River MBR from the west side of the twelve mile auto tour loop at the refuge. Spring thaw is melting the ice on the marsh and more water was ice free than it had been on my most recent trip to the refuge just a few days prior. The ice this eagle was resting on looked a bit spongy to my eyes.
The light angle I had wasn’t the best.
Bald Eagle on thawing ice – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
I moved my Jeep a little more towards the south to get marginally better light. That meant I was farther away from the eagle but the light angle was a smidge more appealing to my eyes.
There were two more eagles on the ice behind this adult but they were a long way out. I saw more than a dozen eagles on this side of the auto tour loop in total but only this one was close enough to photograph.
Bald Eagle on ice near the end of winter – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
It won’t be long now before the Bald Eagles and Rough-legged Hawks I have seen and photographed at the refuge this winter migrate and head towards their breeding grounds.
As I sat comfortably in my Jeep with warm hands and toasty toes and photographed this eagle there was more than just a hint of spring in the air. I’m ready for warmth, longer days and the birds of spring.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Bald Eagle photos plus facts and information about this species.
What a joy to see Bald Eagles on the sparkly ice! Looks like this one may have some cold tootsies!
Thought of you as I was lucky enough to watch a Rufous (or Allen’s — I’m never sure) Hummingbird darting among the orange blossoms early this morning.
I love the sparkle on the ice. Have you ever seen an eagle catch a fish there? I have mostly seen them eating dead fish and dead water fowl frozen in the ice. I wonder if the water in the canals are too deep for the eagles to fish, but it would seem they should be able to catch those big carp that are half out of the water in the ponds.
That was very early in the morning, judging by the length of “his” shadow. He helped by tilting his head a bit in the last shot.