Migrating Bald Eagles

I thought I'd share a few more of the images I took during those 2 days of shooting migrating Bald Eagles in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho over New Year's.  By now, the only Bald Eagles that are likely still left in Coeur d'Alene are the ones that are there year-round.

In this image of an eagle in flight, I took while on the Eagle Watching Cruise we took one afternoon, the catch was successful but hard to see in this image.  I was just happy to get a decent image from the boat.

Some of my favorite images are environmental ones of the eagles or any wildlife in their natural surroundings, whether temporary or permanent.  This one below wasn't such a challenge to capture; no moving boat or cold, shaking hands, no waiting for hours.  We were driving next to the lake and I saw this eagle perched on this branch.  We pulled over and I got out, shot a few frames and then moved on.  Simple, compared to the eagle fishing shots.  I love this image!

It was pretty cool seeing so many bald eagles at once.  As we looked around we would see trees like this with many eagles in them.  There are 7 in this image, including the 2 juveniles that aren't as obvious due to the fact that they don't have white heads or tails yet.  It takes 5 years for their heads and tails to become completely white

The image below was another pull over and shoot, shot.  What we like to refer to as drive-by shooting. lol  This eagle didn't mind my presence at all and just seemed to be so majestic.  They are majestic birds anyway, but this guy...up in the top of the tree staring at me and then all around was quite impressive.  It was a wet morning and you can tell by the way his feathers look.

What a wonderful time we had viewing and photographing these bald eagles.  Special shout out to my incredibly patient husband who waits with me for wildlife, even if sometimes it's in the car.  Thanks, honey!

Do you have Bald Eagles where you live?  Have you photographed them?  I'd love to hear your stories in the comments.  

For more Bald Eagle information CLICK HERE!

Wildlife Photography is About Waiting

Much of wildlife photography is about waiting, sometimes for hours, in the cold and wind or even bugs and heat.  (I'm more a fan of cold and wind than bugs and heat) As a photographer you must wait for the wildlife to show up, for them to be in the right light, at the right angle, with the right background, for them to catch that fish, be close enough for you to capture it. When those things happen, you have to have all of your settings right for correct exposure or be able to change it as your tracking your subject, freezing or blurring action, your lens on panning or static mode, be sure to get that eye in focus or it's a failed shot, and more.  So many things must fall into place for that "winning shot". This is not that shot as many of the things did not come together in this shot, however some of it did and he did catch the fish. 

One thing I learned about photographing fishing birds in flight, after 2 days of standing in the cold and wind from sunup to sundown is that it's harder than it looks and I need a lot more practice.  This particular shot was taken from the boat of an eagle watching cruise out of Coeur d'Alene, hand held, so I'm happy to have it at all.  Standing on a moving boat in the cold and wind and sometimes freezing rain presents a whole other host of challenges.  Boy was it worth it though!  I hope I get to do it again next year.  In the meantime, I have a lot of practicing to do. LOL

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

This is my first decent shot of a ruby-crowned kinglet. I took it at Kathryn Albertson Park in Boise, Idaho. I got a couple other shots of this guy, with his ruby crown showing but they're not as sharp. You can't see the crown in this shot, though.  These tiny birds flit almost frantically from branch to branch making capturing them a real challenge for me.

The Unexpected

Sometimes, in photography, you capture the unexpected; and sometimes, you miss it!  That's what happened last weekend when we (my hubby and I) were down at Swan Falls Dam.

I was photographing this beautiful white pelican (in not so beautiful light) and a huge fish jumped straight up out of the water and down in again, in the background of my image.  I thought I may have captured it and was excited to check and see, but sadly, it was not there.  I did get the splash it made though, as you can see in this image.  That's the one that got away that day, both from myself and this pelican that was unaware the event even took place.

  

I think these unpredictable moments are one thing that keeps me going back out in nature; being at the right time and in the right place to capture or yes perhaps, even miss capturing something spectacular.  A rainbow, an elusive animal or one you've never seen or photographed before, a bolt of lightening, etc...The fact that you get to see incredible things, whether you capture them or not is such a thrill!  Nature provides so many fun experiences and it always keeps me wanting to go back out for more of the unexpected...even if it gets away.

Have you had an unexpected moment you captured or even one that you missed?  I'd love to hear your story!  Tell me about it in the comments.

Great Gray Owl

Check out my adventure with the Great Gray Owl!  CLICK HERE!

Hummingbird is hatching!

At the time of this post a hummingbird is hatching live on the webcam! Check it out!  

http://www.ustream.tv/worldofhummingbirds

New birds to my yard?

Last fall, we had our trees trimmed and we've either had birds that are new to our yard or we can finally see well enough, now that the overgrown trees are trimmed, that we are seeing birds we haven't seen before. This is the first Brown Creeper I've seen in our yard.

I've only seen a Downy woodpecker in my yard a handful of times over the decade I've lived in my current home.  This is the first time I've captured an image of one though.  I'm excited to see what new birds spring brings this year!  What birds are in your yard? Let me know by leaving a comment.