This Bald Eagle photo isn’t my best image of this species, and that is alright with me. I took the photo five days ago on the auto tour loop at Bear River MBR.
Immature Bald Eagle on the road – Nikon D500, f9, 1/1000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
From a distance, I couldn’t make out what was on the road because a haze had developed while I drove the auto tour loop at the refuge. At first, I thought the brownish lump on the dirt road was a raccoon.
As I drove closer and then angled my Jeep across the road, I could tell by then that it was an immature Bald Eagle.
That morning, I saw more Bald Eagles on the refuge than I had seen in a single visit all winter long. The Bald Eagles will soon be heading to their summer and breeding grounds. Because of that, I figured I’d better take photos of this one.
I had hoped to get closer to this young Bald Eagle. Instead, the raptor lifted off, headed south, and then landed on a small dirt island in a water unit there.
Anyone who has driven the auto tour loop at the refuge recently can look at this photo and know I was on the last leg of the loop. The blurry out of focus observation tower and vault toilet at the end of the road in this image are clues as to where I was parked.
It has been a weird, warmer than normal winter here, and that could be why we haven’t seen Bald Eagles in higher numbers. The migrant eagles haven’t had to fly as far south to find open water and food.
It feels more like early spring than winter here for me, probably for the eagles too.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Bald Eagle photos plus facts and information about this species.
We’ll be sending another storm east soon (the flood warnings are already out), so perhaps you’ll get a little snow out of it if it cools down enough. Thank you for sharing this youngster. Does he have a pal a few yards beyond?
Trying to figure out how many years old an immature Bald Eagle is fun. I see that you use the term ” immature ” which is safer. Anyhow , immatures bring a welcome variety into Bald Eagle pictures. Thanks