My First Eagle

StormdancingStormdancing Registered Users Posts: 917 Major grins
edited April 18, 2007 in Wildlife
Now don't laugh! :rofl:rofl:roflEagles are very rare here in SW Indiana. They are making a comeback. Imagine my surprise when I pulled up at the Cypress Swamp.

My very first eagle in the wild. A mile away! :rofl:rofl:rofl
144151105-L.jpg


Tons of GBH - also waaaaaaaay far away.

144152105-L.jpg

Now if I could just learn to walk on water and evade No Tresspassing signs...........
Dana
** Feel free to edit my photos if you see room for improvement.**
Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if
no birds sang there except those that sang best.
~Henry Van Dyke

Comments

  • NetgardenNetgarden Registered Users Posts: 829 Major grins
    edited April 16, 2007
    Congrats!
    I got to experience my first eagle shots this spring too. They were also on private property , no tresspassing, and from what I read, you can be fined like $400 for getting too close to endangered species. [may just be a rumor, but I don't want to find out! lol]

    So my shots were too far away too. Still a joy to see. I'm thinking the nest area needed about 700mm!
    .Linda's OCwildlife Galleries
  • nipprdognipprdog Registered Users Posts: 660 Major grins
    edited April 16, 2007
    Congrats on your first eagle, Dana. I still, clearly remember my first eagle sighting. it was here in NW Indiana on the Tipecanoe River.
    Jim

    http://www.knippixels.com
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited April 16, 2007
    Congrats! I got my first eagle shots in Jan. of this year and many of them were from a mile away in and amongst the GBH nests just like you. Here's to many more....
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • dbaker1221dbaker1221 Registered Users Posts: 4,482 Major grins
    edited April 16, 2007
    congrats! I'll bet it is cool to see all the GBH in one tree.
    **If I keep shooting, I'm bound to hit something**
    Dave
  • StormdancingStormdancing Registered Users Posts: 917 Major grins
    edited April 16, 2007
    Thanks everyone!

    Netgarden: I tried shooting this with the 1.4 TC on the Bigma which would give me 700mm but it didn't help that much and IQ suffered.

    nipprdog: Here is the count from last year for our area.
    Posey County - 2 nests with total of 3 chicks as of May 25, 2006. I feel very lucky to have sighted this guy. They are slowly making a comeback in Southwestern Indiana.


    dbaker1221: It was amazing. It was like watching a construction zone with all the comings and goings of dozens of these beautiful cranes.

    The Eagle never moved off that Cypress stump. I would have thought it was a decoy, if I hadn't seen him stretching his wings and turning his head from side to side. I'll be going back and trying my luck again.
    Dana
    ** Feel free to edit my photos if you see room for improvement.**
    Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if
    no birds sang there except those that sang best.
    ~Henry Van Dyke
  • nipprdognipprdog Registered Users Posts: 660 Major grins
    edited April 16, 2007
    Stormdancing wrote:
    Thanks everyone!

    nipprdog: Here is the count from last year for our area.
    Posey County - 2 nests with total of 3 chicks as of May 25, 2006. I feel very lucky to have sighted this guy. They are slowly making a comeback in Southwestern Indiana.

    there numbers are growing statewide. :D not to hijack, but here's a shot of a nest in WC Indiana. I made a couple trips there last year. the nest had three eaglets. I was later surprised to read that it was one of seven nests in our state that had three eaglets. I got to watch them practicing for their first flights. It was pretty cool. :D

    DSC_5618b.jpg
    Jim

    http://www.knippixels.com
  • StormdancingStormdancing Registered Users Posts: 917 Major grins
    edited April 16, 2007
    I don't mind at all. Was this along the Wabash?
    How neat to be able to watch these youngins.
    Dana
    ** Feel free to edit my photos if you see room for improvement.**
    Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if
    no birds sang there except those that sang best.
    ~Henry Van Dyke
  • ShepsMomShepsMom Registered Users Posts: 4,319 Major grins
    edited April 16, 2007
    Cool shots Dana, sounds like you need longer lens Laughing.gif. I am yet to find an eagle and i do, it probably would be a mile away Laughing.gif
    Marina
    www.intruecolors.com
    Nikon D700 x2/D300
    Nikon 70-200 2.8/50 1.8/85 1.8/14.24 2.8
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited April 16, 2007
    Congrats Dana clap.gif its always a thrill to see an eagle and to be able to get a few shots in are a nice bonus too.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • StormdancingStormdancing Registered Users Posts: 917 Major grins
    edited April 16, 2007
    Thanks Harry and ShepsMom.

    I'll be stalking him now. It was so pretty out there with the sun setting like that and giving the Heron Tree an orange glow. It was pretty as long as I didn't look down. Laughing.gif The roadside pull off area was full of all kinds of trash and lord knows what. There was even a deer carcass throw over the bank. eek7.gif

    ShepsMom: On my budget right now the Bigma (500mm) is about as big as I'm going to get. I'd better practice on my stalking methods. :D
    Dana
    ** Feel free to edit my photos if you see room for improvement.**
    Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if
    no birds sang there except those that sang best.
    ~Henry Van Dyke
  • ShepsMomShepsMom Registered Users Posts: 4,319 Major grins
    edited April 16, 2007
    Stormdancing wrote:
    Thanks Harry and ShepsMom.

    I'll be stalking him now. It was so pretty out there with the sun setting like that and giving the Heron Tree an orange glow. It was pretty as long as I didn't look down. Laughing.gif The roadside pull off area was full of all kinds of trash and lord knows what. There was even a deer carcass throw over the bank. eek7.gif

    ShepsMom: On my budget right now the Bigma (500mm) is about as big as I'm going to get. I'd better practice on my stalking methods. :D

    I was hoping for a 300mm lol, now i'm jealous! eek7.gif
    Marina
    www.intruecolors.com
    Nikon D700 x2/D300
    Nikon 70-200 2.8/50 1.8/85 1.8/14.24 2.8
  • nipprdognipprdog Registered Users Posts: 660 Major grins
    edited April 16, 2007
    Stormdancing wrote:
    I don't mind at all. Was this along the Wabash?
    How neat to be able to watch these youngins.

    that nest is between Racoon Lake and Greencastle. and when my 300 f4 gets here..........mwink.gif

    there's another nest that I've watched for the last 5 years. its on the Tippecanoe River. 10 minutes from home. five by truck, and 5 by boat. assuming there's enough water in the river to get through the shallow section. :D

    due to the extended winter :soapbox , I haven't been there yet.
    Jim

    http://www.knippixels.com
  • Jody MelansonJody Melanson Registered Users Posts: 416 Major grins
    edited April 18, 2007
    I think you should have used some fill flash. :D

    Congrats on your first Eagle! :)
    There is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness!
  • StormdancingStormdancing Registered Users Posts: 917 Major grins
    edited April 18, 2007
    Yeah that would be a good idea! Maybe I could radio one of the barges on the nearby Ohio River to shine their 2,000,000,000 candle power spot light into the swamp while I shoot.ne_nau.gif

    Thanks Jody
    Dana
    ** Feel free to edit my photos if you see room for improvement.**
    Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if
    no birds sang there except those that sang best.
    ~Henry Van Dyke
  • ShasocShasoc Registered Users Posts: 691 Major grins
    edited April 18, 2007
    Congratulation on your first Eagle, Dana. I have yet to experience shooting an eagle. I like the first shot, the eagle nicely balances the beautiful setting like a cherry on top of wipped cream.thumb.gif:D
    Socrate
    "Natura artis magistra"
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