Bald Eagle - Our National Symbol - Vol. #8

I have been photographing the Bald Eagle(s) at the Conowingo Dam each Fall, since 2007. 2011 has been my poorest year. On 3 visits I had to sit there (mostly stand) and wait for 3 ½ hours until the fog burned off. Likewise, the numbers of eagles present has decreased. Many would consider 60-70 eagles a lot but I have been spoiled. We have had heavy rains this Fall, with rising water, which made it more difficult for the eagles to find fish. So, they may have sought other places. In summary, I took a lot of photos but discarded most because the eagle or eagles were too far away for a good shot. I decided to bring back, or continue, the “Bald Eagle, Our National Symbol” thread. The following link will take you back to the previous “Volume #7”, if interested in looking at some of the previous years.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1143186/

This first photo was one of my favorites this season. Good shots don't come easy. When the Bald Eagle decides to hit the water he moves swiftly and is often easily lost in the viewfinder. He was relatively close which makes it even more difficult with a 500mm lens. In a series of six rapid shots this was the only one that had the entire eagle.

I sort of like this one, also. Anytime I can get them in a sort of unusual position, I am pleased.

I don't take (intentionally) many photos of sitting Bald Eagles. They are often quite near, sitting in a tree. However, I try to arrive by daybreak so I can get a good spot along the river and don't like to leave it for fear of not being able to find a decent location to sit up my tripod.

Another photo of the same eagle .....

One more before dinner. Photographing a Bald Eagle hitting the water and catching a fish is what most photographers are hoping for. They don't always cooperate in respect to perfect location.

As mentioned earlier, rising waters, flooding, etc. were part of the Bald Eagle's visit this year. In the area where we park, the flood level had risen 1-2 feet above the parking lot level. Fences were torn down and a wooden viewing platform was destroyed. Thankfully, Exelon who operates the hydroelectric generating Conowingo Dam made immediate repairs to the area. But as waters from up North continued to apply pressure to the dam, it caused them to allow more water to flow through. It was an unusual sight. Here is a lonely adult Bald Eagle sitting on a large rock as the water rages in the background.

Wonderful shots Linth!

Thanks, pelle.

Here is an image from Google Earth that gives some perspective of the surrounding area. We park near the bottom left corner of the photo. The bridge crossing the dam is about 1 mile in length. Where many of the eagles congregate and perform their aerial acrobats is about 2,800 feet from the parking lot. It's discouraging to see so many opportunities that are basically unreachable with the longest of lenses. Most photographers are using 500mm or 600mm lenses, often with a teleconverter. A few Canon 800mm lenses can be seen among the river fence. So, we patiently wait on the opposite side of the river for an eagle to come our way. Of course, the distance doesn't stop me from taking photos. I enjoy them. They're just not publishable.

I think this photo was taken across the river, at 700mm. You can see six eagles (I think) along with a few Black Vultures. I have never been to a place with so many Black Vultures. I have difficulty focusing at that distance because it wants to focus on the background.

This one was closer, a lot closer ..... In contrast, sometimes you can't get all of the eagles in the same photo.

As mentioned, they often sit in the trees along the parking lot. I have seen them actually drop a fish on a car in the parking area. When one does alight in a close by tree, the photographers flock to get a photo. As mentioned, I choose to stake out my territory rather than join a frenzy of photographers, especially on a Saturday or Sunday.

On occasion, one can get a photo of a Bald Eagle below camera level. I do prefer that to the flyovers where I generally wind up with a dark eagle belly. Some photographers position themselves at water level which unquestionably provides a different photo perspective.

Within seconds of a Bald Eagle catching a fish he, or she, will be pursued by others. It often results in a dropped fish. Here is an image of a confrontation. The eagle at the top has a fish in his talons ......

Hi Linth. I'm so glad you've started a new thread on these beautiful birds. Really informative. I love all your shots, but the one with the roiling water is wonderful, as is the last one with the bird looking upwards.

Amazing shots linth, and great information of the task at hand. Looks like a nice spot to be positioned to get the actions. I also love the shot with the bird looking upward.

Great shots and interesting info. I really enjoy your eagle threads.

Thanks everyone for your comments. As you might expect, Conowingo Dam is probably my favorite place especially during October and November. It attracts lots of photographers from surrounding states. I enjoy chatting with the new people and catching up with the "regulars". We're always talking about photography equipment and exchanging thoughts. I find it to be an enriching and helpful experience. Most people post their photos on the web so we exchange "business" cards, go home and look at their photos, also. While at Conowingo, you often need another set of eyes and especially behind you. Everyone alerts each other by shouting "On the Left", coming in overhead", etc. I was only annoyed one time this year when it was so crowded, one gentleman had his tripod legs sticking inside of my tripod.

Here is an immature Bald Eagle flying overhead. I seem to notice the ratio of adults present to immatures is changing. The last time I was there I observed a larger percentage of immatures which tells me that the adults are starting to leave for their nesting site. The immature eagles will hang around for awhile because they have no urgency to depart.

It is not too early to begin work on the nest. Here is a photo of a resident adult Bald Eagle bringing in some nesting material. This is the closest tower to the parking lot but is still about 800 feet away. The nest is in the left corner at the very top of the left tower so there is no chance of photographing into the nest. They raised a family here last year, also. There are towers farther away and for whatever reason, they moved to this tower two years ago.

Some of you have watched the Blackwater eagle webcam in the past. At that nest, they start laying eggs around January 19th. Hopefully, they will soon complete repairs on the webcam.

An adult flying overhead ......

I don't want to even guess how far away this tower is from the parking lot. I only retained this photo because of the number of Bald Eagles sitting in the tower. I think I counted 17. So, as you can see, they are not lacking for spots to congregate. It's probably a monthly meeting of the mid-Atlantic Bald Eagle Society !

This type of day is what I call a perfect day as an adult Bald Eagle flies overhead. The sun is positioned correctly, the sky is blue, very little wind, normal water levels (and clear), not too cold and accommodating Bald Eagles. I want it all !!!!

Another photo of the raging waters in the background. It's not a close-up but it is a photograph.

I only retained this photograph as a reminder to "how did I ever get the Bald Eagle head into focus as it flew swiftly through the parking lot'? I'm still trying to figure it out. Under normal circumstances (based on my experience) the trees would be in focus and the eagle blurred.

An adult Bald Eagle heading off to enjoy his catch, i.e. before he is surrounded by other eagles .....

Glad to see you returning with such beautiful photos Linth. Each one is so clear and pretty-well done!

Thanks, duc .....

One component of the activity at Conowingo is to find and photograph Bald Eagles with leg bands and/or GPS monitors. For years wildlife biologists have studied and tagged Bald Eagle along the east coast. A federal (silver) band is placed on the left leg and a state color coded band is placed on the right leg. The band on the right leg has alpha-numeric digits identifying that particular eagle. I have referenced this before but several years ago I photographed an immature Bald Eagle with a Blue tag and the digits of S-47. I didn't know who to contact but I quickly was put in touch with the right people. This particular program is managed by the Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. I soon found out that this was a Bald Eagle that was banded in 2007 in the State of New York and given the name of "Hudson". For the last two years, I have followed the trail of "Hudson". Unfortunately, he has never returned to the Conowingo Dam. During the summer months he travels to the far reaches of northern Quebec, CN. He seems to have found another place to his liking where the states of Pennsylvania, New York & New Jersey meet. He is now 4 1/2 years old as he is reaching adulthood. His appearance, I'm sure, has changed and he may have met a girlfriend. My photos of "Hudson" were eventually included in a CCB article about the Conowingo Dam Bald Eagles. If interested, this link will take you to that article. There is some interesting information in the article.

http://www.ccb-wm.org/news/2009_SeptDec/eagles_at_ConowingoDam.html

I return to Conowingo each Fall hoping for a repeat performance. To capture the tag number in flight is rather rare. In most cases, they are seen when the eagle is sitting on a tree branch. Here is a photo of an adult with the GPS showing on his back. Who is he ? I wish I knew.

Many of the GPS units have died out. Hudson's solar operated GPS has been functioning for nearly 1,400 days. That may be nearing its useful life.

Another photo of ???????.

Here is a link to the tracking of the Bald Eagles of the Chesapeake Bay ....

http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/index.shtml?project_id=349

Beautiful thread Linth!! Many great photo's and love the scenes with the raging water's!! Thanks for sharing the Eagles of Conowingo Dam with us once again!!

Thanks, Burd ....... by the way, congratulations on your winning photos in the recent Bird Category contest. Well deserving !!!

I've been visiting some photo galleries and sort of fascinated with Animations. Dave's Garden isn't programmed to allow animations because they made a decision years ago to not permit "dancing bananas" and a concern for mischievous animations. I guess I'm a little naive but I see an animation as a compilation of a number of photos that would be allowed to be posted separately ? If someone wants to behave mischievously they will find a way. Anyway, I have been playing around with animations and have put them on my website photo gallery. I have put together a series of my Bald Eagle images. Nothing spectacular but stimulates an idle mind (mine) !

Here is a link to a recent animation created from images taken at the Conowingo Dam.

http://gickr.com/results3/anim_d887d8df-b7e2-2ae4-d1b9-5d86bf3ec0f2.gif

An adult Bald Eagle with a recently caught fish heading right toward my camera .......

The beginning of a chase ........

Closing in ..... I like when their wing tip just touches the water ........

The moment of reckoning !

This photo should have been before the last one .......

Another photo of the Bald Eagle posted earlier ......

Another photo of an adult Bald Eagle shortly after catching a fish (not near me).

Not a very good photo but this is what happens over 50% of the time when they engage in a chase.

Another one flying past us ........ with a fish.

Same Bald Eagle .........

One more for now ........... with his tongue hanging out. If you look closely, he, too, has a fish tucked away in his talons.