Eagle Mating Pair Catching Breakfast

NorthernFocus

We were out on Prince William Sound again last weekend and headed for the same area where we saw plenty of eagles a couple of weeks ago. While we were eating breakfast Saturday morning, I was watching two eagles perched together in a tree and fishing the area. After observing them for a while we realized it was a mating pair with a nest nearby. The birds are fairly well habituated to seeing boats and didn't appear to pay any attention to us. We positioned ourselves about 100 yards offshore of the nest and waited. It was really interesting to watch the pair fish in tandem. When they would catch a fish they'd return to the nest and the female would tear it up and feed it to the chick. Using a pair of 14x binos we just barely saw the chick's head once or twice as it reached up for a bite. Once the male caught another fish before the female was finished feeding and he returned to the nest, dropped it off, and immediately returned to fishing.

Best of all, this behavior provided a perfect opportunity for photographing the birds in action. They were fishing in a fairly small area in order to stay close enough to defend the nest. The salmon aren't in yet so whatever they were catching were small enough that they returned several times to continue fishing.

I improved my results significantly over prior BIF attempts by building a rifle stock type mount. Here are a few of my favorites from the weekend:

Nikon D200/Sigma 100-300 f4 mounted on custom rifle stock
1/2000s f/8.0 at 300.0mm

Freedom (circling back around after missing a fish)


Incoming


I have really been trying to capture an image just prior to the point of impact when the talons are extended. Finally did it with this next photo. The talons aren't spread as wide nor held directly in front like an osprey does. The eagles technique is more like scooping the fish from the water rather than a direct impact. After watching a few of them, though, they each have unique aspects to how they fish. Note the feathers on the back of the legs just touching the water.

Precision


Success!


Dinnertime (Mom heading back to the nest)


This next shot is the male back on his fishing perch after dropping groceries off to mom and the kids. The nest is in the shadows behind him and out of frame to the right. It was too high and too dark to get any images of them in the nest. It was so old there was grass growing out of the top of the nest some 50-60 ft off the ground.

Home Guard

BigAl

That is a super set Dan! I just love the comp in #1 - something I'll prolly never see unless I win the Lotto :cry

jonh68

I really like the #3, but I would be happy to get any one of these shots of an eagle.

Rhuarc

Wow!! Amazing!

NorthernFocus

Thanks for the comments, folks. The first shot in this series is one of my favorites to date. Photographing these eagles has really been a blast and a good learning experience. One good thing about them is that they get used to your presence pretty quickly and just ignore you. At least when you're in a boat that's the case

Maestro

In my best 80s Valley Girl (Boy) accent...Totally awesome!

dlplumer

Great stuff Dan

nrmdisk

Great shots!
I am jealous...I am watching a nesting pair in NB Canada, and while I do get some pics of the little ones, I have never been lucky enough to get one fishing! Incredible shots!

If interested in the pair I'm watching, check out my Birds of Prey Galleries...

Neil
http://nrmdisk.smugmug.com

Herc

Beautiful shots. Don't know what else to say. Love "Incoming" and "Precision".

Cheers, Shayne

NorthernFocus

Stephen, is that like "totally awesome deeeewwwd"...

Thanks, Dan.

Neil, I visited your site. We've definately got the "grass is always greener" syndrome. I'd love the opportunity to capture some images of the chicks/fledgelings .

PrescottPhotog

articblooms wrote:

I have really been trying to capture an image just prior to the point of impact when the talons are extended. Finally did it with this next photo. The talons aren't spread as wide nor held directly in front like an osprey does. The eagles technique is more like scooping the fish from the water rather than a direct impact. After watching a few of them, though, they each have unique aspects to how they fish. Note the feathers on the back of the legs just touching the water.

Excellent photos Dan.. especially the shot of the eagle skimming the top of the water.. not only the feathers on the back of its legs just touching but the tail is tilted up just above the water to keep it from touching and maybe loosing control. Super Duper shots..

Harryb

Outstanding Dan especially 2, 3,& 4.

Awais Yaqub

Splendid

kdog

Awais Yaqub wrote:

Splendid

Indeed. A most excellent series.

NorthernFocus

Thanks for the encouraging comments, everyone. I've got one more eagle trip planned for this summer. In a couple weeks we plan to visit a creek where a couple hundred of them usually group up to feast on pink salmon. I'm hoping to get some close-ups then. But as of last week the salmon weren't cooperating

Thanks again,