Juvenile Bald Eagle fishing (7): I watched this juvenile Bald Eagle wading and catching minnows in the shallow water flowing over gravel bars in the Lackawaxen River near Rowland, Pa.

GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

I watched this juvenile Bald Eagle wading and catching minnows in the shallow water flowing over gravel bars in the Lackawaxen River near Rowland, Pa. He flew up and down, and back and forth across the river, constantly looking down at the water for prey.

Although I had seen many juvenile Bald Eagles, when I first saw this one and looked at the pics, I thought I had a Golden Eagle. I sent the pics to Dr. Peter Nye, NY DCNR (Ret.), for confirmation and he assured me it was an immature Bald Eagle. Golden Eagles have bright golden hackles on their head and down the back of the neck even when juveniles. These young Bald Eagles are often confused with Goldens.

Golden Eagles pass thru our Bald Eagle watching area once in a while, and a friend of mine got some pics of one that had a satellite tracking transmitter on its back.

I shot these with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT w/EF 100-400mm L lens HH; P-mode; Partial metering; ISO 400. Cropped and PP w/PSE8.
Enjoy these. Comments welcome. -- Gene

See more of my Juvenile Bald Eagle pics at:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-88620-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-75563-1.html

#1

#2 - I'm going to use this one in a Power Point slideshow demonstrating the eagle's protective Nictitating lens.

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7 - If not for the weeds in front, this could've been better.

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Nice job, Gene!

GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

birdpix wrote:

Nice job, Gene!

Thanks, Roy. Glad you like 'em and thanks for looking.

CJartist Loc: Ormond Beach

Great set Gene, really great

Birdguide Loc: Ormond Beach, FL

Wow GeneM, a great series and a very handsome model. Good job

GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

CJartist wrote:

Great set Gene, really great

Thank you, CJ. Glad you like 'em and thanks for looking.

GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

Birdguide wrote:

Wow GeneM, a great series and a very handsome model. Good job

Thank you. Glad you like 'em and thanks for looking.

Tom O Loc: Wisconsin

GeneM,
Can you estimate the distance you were from the immature eagle. I'm curious about the range of the lens (understanding the crop ).
Thanks, Tom

GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

Tom O wrote:

Can you estimate the distance you were from the immature eagle?

I would estimate I was approx. 40-yds. from this eagle where he was wading in the water. These crops are about 50% of FF.
If you've looked at any of my Nesting Bald Eagle threads, the nest was 55-65 yds. measured with a laser rangefinder. I used the 100-400mm lens on most of those shots and naturally, they were cropped about the same or more. Gene

Tom O Loc: Wisconsin

Thanks Gene, this is the kind of information I need to help me improve.
I've been somewhat active on the site to learn from those such as yourself that are more advanced.
Can you look at these two pictures for me and give some critique.
I believe that I was about 40-50 yards from these birds. Both pictures are the same except the second is cropped & PP in iPhoto.
A Canon T2i w/100-400mm L Lens set at Av, Spot meter, ISO 160, 400mm, f/7.1 & 1/500 shutter.

Straight from the camera - Long Shot

Cropped & PP in iPhoto

bhowdy Loc: Maryville, Tennessee

Wonderful series and information Gene .... thanks for responding to the question, this is how we all help one another and learn

GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

bhowdy wrote:

Wonderful series and information Gene .... thanks for responding to the question, this is how we all help one another and learn

Thanks, Bob. Glad you like 'em and thanks for looking. I'm glad to help.

GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

Tom O wrote:

Thanks Gene, this is the kind of information I need to help me improve.
I've been somewhat active on the site to learn from those such as yourself that are more advanced.
Can you look at these two pictures for me and give some critique.
I believe that I was about 40-50 yards from these birds. Both pictures are the same except the second is cropped & PP in iPhoto.
A Canon T2i w/100-400mm L Lens set at Av, Spot meter, ISO 160, 400mm, f/7.1 & 1/500 shutter.

Your pic reminds me of some I have of a resident pair in Lackawaxen, Pa. But mine were more than 100-yds. away and shot with a 70-300mm lens.

The only thing I see in your pic is an environmental problem. I have plenty of pics like that. Looks like it was windy when you took your pic, causing feathers to move around, and there is no way to get away from branches unless you can stealthly move to a better shooting angle.

If those eagles frequent the area, and if that's their favorite roosting tree, try to get yourself in a better position and work from there. Sometimes that's not possible because of some obstacle (i.e. river, lake, etc.). If that's the case, try to find a different location where they frequent. Sometimes you have to study the subject's habits a little more.

Good luck.

Tom O Loc: Wisconsin

Gene,

Thank you. I never considered the wind as a factor in sharpness!

The site is over 100 miles from home, however, the points you make about environmental issues and distance from the subject are well taken. I will be more aware of these factors when setting up shots in the future.

Tom

GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

Tom O wrote:

Gene,

Thank you. I never considered the wind as a factor in sharpness!

The site is over 100 miles from home, however, the points you make about environmental issues and distance from the subject are well taken. I will be more aware of these factors when setting up shots in the future.

Tom

You're welcome. Have fun shooting.