Sunrise, a Bald Eagle and Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/500, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
I photographed this adult Bald Eagle at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge early on New Year’s Day when the light of dawn was still golden. I have photographed Bald Eagles on this post before and I quite enjoy the setting with the frozen marshes of the refuge and the distant mountains in the background. Bald Eagles overwinter in this area by the hundreds at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Salt Creek WMA and Farmington Bay WMA.
This refuge means a lot to me personally and it means a lot to birders, bird photographers, nature photographers, hunters, fisherman, bikers, hikers and nature lovers. It might be remote but thousands of people visit this beautiful area each month. If you have never been to this refuge I highly recommend visiting it as soon as you can. This is a place where winds blow over the marshes, the calls of the birds rise into the air and we are enveloped by nature.
An adult Bald Eagle on New Year’s Day – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
It seems ironic to me that I photographed this Bald Eagle, a symbol of our country, on a National Wildlife Refuge the day before hostile, flag-waving, extremist, constitutionally-challenged, idiots took over Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in nearby Oregon which belongs to all of us just like Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge does.
These are OUR lands. They do not belong in the hands of armed extremist pukes. Not now, not ever.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Bald Eagle photos plus facts and information about this species.
Thank you Mia for the images and the message! Couldn’t agree more and am so thankful that you are there photographing and sharing these images with us!
There’s nothing quite like that first light of the day to bring out the best in most subjects. What it does for this eagle is spectacular! Very nice work, Mia!
A beautiful image! Love how the colors in the weathered wood compliments the colors of the bird. Especially like the contrast of the verticals (bird and post) and the horizontals, the wayer and marsh plants.
Beautiful photos, Mia. So Symbolic.