Young Eagle Up Close

[BilletHead]

There is a place on my favorite river a friend And I fish often. There has been an eagle nest there for fifteen to twenty years. That many years back I thought it was pretty special to see it and the adults with young. Now I have been taking it for granted after seeing it there for all those years. Been there off and on for the last two weeks. Young out of the nest. Two of the young we see flying from tree to tree up an down the river. The third one not so much. HE would just stand on the bank and when the boat went by he would go up the bank into the weeds and brush and hide. One morning early he was on a brush pile in the river and looked like a wet rat of sorts. I think he is getting used to us as now he just sits there as we go by. He is flying some now. An adult is never far. Went by him this morning and he was up in a tree. On the way back I told my buddy I was going to shoot him, WITH the camera. As we came around the bend he was not to be seen. Then just up river on a gravel bar an adult took off. The little one had to be there I thought maybe with a meal. Sure enough there he was and I went to shooting.

Mother or father had supplied a channel cat for breakfast. Soon he was grabbing the fish and trying to get out of our sight.

He then dropped the fish and hopped up the gravel bar then stopped. He than gave us the look of leave me alone so we bid him a goodbye.

I will try not to take this place for granted any more. May that nest fledge many more birds in the future,

BilletHead

[ness]

Dang! Very cool shots. I know what you mean about taking stuff for granted. That's a good thing to keep in mind.

[lee G.]

Dang, Billet, you dont need my advice on how to use a camera, lol

[lee G.]

I got a turkey that walks thru my front yard every couple of days, you inspired me to try a photo of her, lol

[Rolan Duffield]

Great Pictures. Thanks for sharing.

Rolan

[BilletHead]

Thanks guys, they say a blind hog finds an acorn once and a while. Thank goodness for auto settings and good light I had the camera on multiple shots and snapped 90 or so. All but one turned out. It was one where he was lose to a log and it focused on that log instead of him. These are the best I thought. I think I may even have one of him taking a great eagle crap. Digital cameras are the bomb. Just delete the junky photos and keep the cream.

BilletHead

[Flysmallie]

Nice job Mr. Head!

I freaking love eagles. The only bird I do like.

[lee G.]

Yeah Billet, i keep mind on motor drive all the time, that makes up for my lack of knowledge, lol!

Did you have a 200 mm lens on for those shots or a 55?

[BilletHead]

55-200 zoom. I had it cranked up most of the time until I got so close a couple of times I had to crank it down a bit. You always hope your camera can match what your naked eye sees. How many times have we taken photos to only be disappointed to see what you really end up with? Well this time It turned out how I had hoped,

BilletHead

[lee G.]

Thats the same lens i got, its a good one, but a little short for birds, you really slipped up on him.

Over the years I found out good photos were luck and knowing the lens, lol

You sure did good on those photos!