photoartflightBald Eagles From Shop Rite – 2010
Posted on February 1, 2021
I am going through my collection of Backup Drives, cleaning out folders of images not needed. I found these Bald Eagle images from January 2010. Back then I heard that a family of Bald Eagles were at a Shop Rite grocery store in Nyack, NY across from the Palisades Mall on Route 59. They seemed to take up residence in the woods behind their parking lot. There was also a small stream on the other side of the fence so they seemed to find meals as small animals would come to drink at the stream. Needless to say they had a lot of shoppers startled by there presence there. Luckily the parking lot had a wire fence around the back lot otherwise people would have bothered them even more. They seemed to like looking at the shoppers going in & out and sometimes would look down at them from the parking lot lights. Soon after they were noticed, word was out they were there and it became mobbed with people watching them from what I heard. All images were taken with a Canon 400mm DO lens on a Canon 1D mkIII.
Early Morning Blackwater NWR Landscape
Posted on July 8, 2020
Many times when you visit the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, you can see Eagles early in the morning on snags or on tree branches as the sun is rising. It is fun to see how many you can find to photograph.
Bald Eagles Enforcing Closed Road
Posted on January 19, 2020
The Eagles seemed to be enforcing the Closed Road, manning the checkpoint! They liked sitting on the barricade. Throughout the day we were there we saw a few different Eagles sitting there.
Squawking Eagles at BWR
Posted on July 8, 2017
These Bald Eagles seemed to have a lot to say as we were passing by on the Wildlife Drive at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. They were there for quite a while, squawking loudly, as we were photographing them.
Bald Eagles From Blackwater NWR
Posted on January 16, 2017
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge has some of the largest concentrations of Bald Eagles in the Northeast in the Winter months. Also the largest breeding populations of Bald Eagles north of Florida. The Refuge is over 28,000 acres with a Wildlife Drive and multiple trails. The main photo areas would be on the Wildlife Drive, multiple trails off or near the Wildlife Drive or The Tubman Road Trail. There are roads running through the Refuge, but they frown on people stopping to photograph because they are busy roads with no spots to stop unless you are on a bike. But you can drive through and see the Eagles flying or in the trees. Plus quite a few Eagle nests plus other birds, etc. On these I removed a few branches that were distracting. Shot with a Canon 1D MkIV and a 400mm f/4 DO lens w/ a 1.4X series III Teleconverter, handheld.
Bald Eagles at Blackwater NWR
Posted on November 11, 2016
We got a chance to take the day off and go to the Blackwater NWR in Cambridge Maryland. It is about 45 sq. Miles. But it has a Wildlife Drive which gives you an area easy to use for photo opportunities. Blackwater NWR is know for Bald Eagles and has some of the largest amounts of Eagles in the Northeast. The Bald Eagle numbers increase in the late fall with Eagles returning from Canada. We saw quite a few, but most were flying far off. Even so I got quite a few shots of Eagles considering we were only there for a few hours. Blackwater is also know for colorful sunsets since it is close to coast.
Red-Winged Blackbird Flocks at Blackwater NWR
Posted on December 11, 2013
In the colder months there are huge flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds flying through the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge outside of Cambridge Maryland. The number of Bald Eagles increase also during the colder months to approximately 150. When the water freezes over the Eagles sometimes are seen taking Red-winged Blackbirds or Canada Geese for their meals. Here are some photos of the flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds flying through the refuge and also photos of Eagles guarding their lunch.
Canon 20D, Sigma 300-800 f/5.6 zoom @ 731mm (1170mm with 1.6 crop factor of 20D sensor), 1/2000 sec @ f/8, ISO 400, aperture priority, -0.33 exposure compensation.
Canon 7D, EF400mm f/4 DO IS USM +1.4x teleconverter, 560mm (896mm with 1.6 crop factor of 7D sensor), @ f/8, 1/2500 sec, ISO 400, Aperture Priority, -0.33 exposure compensation.
Eagle w/Red-winged blackbird, Canon EOS 7D, Sigma 300-800mm f/5.6 zoom @ 1023mm with 1.6X crop factor of 7D sensor), 1/2500 sec, f/8, ISO 400.
Red-winged blackbirds flying by the snag at sunset.
Red-winged Blackbirds scattering after Eagle swooped in for a meal.
Favorite Bald Eagle Snag at Blackwater NWR
Posted on December 8, 2013
Bald Eagles like their snags to roost on at Blackwater NWR. Over the years you get to know where the popular spots are, and also good opportunities for photography. Not only for them on the snags, but also going to and from these spots for great opportunities for in flight photos of Bald Eagles. This was one of the favorite snags year after year, near the end of the Wildlife Drive. But this year, sadly it is gone. It was often used by multiple eagles at once. Nothing stays the same, so hopefully this will open up new possibilities for even closer spots in the future. Header image Canon EOS 7D, Canon 400mm DO w1.4X teleconverter, 1/1250 sec @ f/8, ISO 400. Being Old School, I usually stop down at least 1 additional stop, over the additional f/stop loss when using a teleconverter. I believe this just adds a little more sharpness.
Eagles on snag. Water was frozen over so this Eagle picked a Red-winged Blackbird for a meal. You can see the feathers falling. Canon EOS1D MkIII, 400mm DO f/4, w/ 2X Teleconverter, 1/1250 sec f/14 , ISO 640, effective focal length 1040mm
Crop from above series.
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