Eagles in Flight

Today we have a look at the photos of Bald Eagles in flight (or nearly so, as in the image above).



We were sitting in an open, flat-bottomed boat being very cold. the only way to get close to the birds is to come at them slowly and without lots of fuss. To do this, we use a large outboard motor to take us upstream in this shallow but swift-moving river and then we'd us a small, quieter motor to maneuver as we drifted back downstream. The upstream travel was very cold with the wind in our face. when we went into drift mode, our guide would light a propane heater to take a bit of the edge off. It was about 35-36F when we started in the morning. We were pretty well frozen by the time we finished.

We drifted over to a sandbar with an immature bird. When he finally had had enough of us and took flight, here's what I got. I think all that is missing is a falling snow to complete the scene.

He turned toward the far shore and I got a shot from behind.

This older immature bird took off from a tree near the river.

This guy had to do a few stretches before taking off.

This is definitely not the best angle. Here you can see the stained feather at the rear of the animal.

Ah, but once he takes off! A majestic animal that takes to the wing in an effortless and graceful motion.

Our guide was really wonderful. As the bird flew, he would slowly turn the boat, sometimes in exact synchrony with the motion of the bird. A couple times I had only to point the camera in one direction relative to the boat to follow the bird all the way across the river. That is what practice in taking people out on the river will do. Ov course, that does not mean that I got good photos from all those wonder panning trials. But I tried.

There are great animals for watching. There were dozens of them out along the river. Easily between 50 and 100 all told. On the Nooksack river that flows down Mt. Baker much farther north, he said there were many hundreds there already. And the number continue to climb through December. I urge you come to Skagit or Nooksack river valley in December one year. It is worth freezing to see the glorious river and the handsome birds.