Farmington Bay Bald Eagles Close Up And Far Away

Bald Eagle coming in for a landing in the marsh at Farmington Bay – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

When I wrote about the American White Pelicans I photographed at Farmington Bay WMA yesterday I mentioned that I also photographed some Bald Eagles after I photographed the pelicans. I saw a large group of eagles out on the flats in the distance, parked my Jeep and used a sit and wait approach hoping that the eagles would come close to me in flight but I also wanted to get some images where the eagles were small in the frame that showed more of the habitat than close up images can or do.

This adult Bald Eagle had lowered its legs as it slowed down to make a landing in the marsh. There are mountains in the background but they were not lit up as well as I would have liked because of clouds passing overhead that put them in the shadows, I liked how the eagle seemed to glow against what appears to be; but isn’t, a stormy sky.

Adult Bald Eagle banking over a marsh – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 800, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

This adult Bald Eagle banked in flight over a section of the marsh that now has shallow water over the alkali flats, when the eagle turned the sunlight lit up the dorsal side of the bird which showed the beautiful patterns and details in its dark plumage from one wing tip to the other.

Bald Eagle circling over the marsh – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/4000, ISO 800, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

A few frames later the same Bald Eagle started to circle over the marsh and appeared to head towards the north where several eagles were resting on the ground but it surprised me when it stopped turning then lowered its legs…

Adult Bald Eagle landing on a clump of mud – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 800, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

And landed all by itself on the flooded flats. I had locked my focus on on the eagle and was ready to photograph it just before its talons touched the ground.

Bald Eagle landing to join five other eagles – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/5000, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

If I had been closer to this group of Bald Eagles there is no way I would have been able to fit them all in my viewfinder without taking off my teleconverter. I liked this photo because it shows one of the eagles coming in for a landing on the marsh. It appeared to land in slow motion at the time because it was facing a strong southerly wind.

Four Bald Eagles in the marsh at Farmington Bay WMA – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/5000, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

I saw lots of Bald Eagles even further away in the distance too and tried to keep an eye on them for behavior shots, these eagles can and do get territorial over food.

Adult Bald Eagle in flight heading south – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 800, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

My sit and wait approach paid off when an adult Bald Eagle flew in from the east then turned south and flew past me close enough to get frame filling images of it.

Adult Bald Eagle with its wings fully extended in flight – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 800, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

The Bald Eagle was just far enough away that I was able to take a nice series of photos of it without clipping its wings even when they were fully extended.

Bald Eagle adult flying past in a stiff breeze – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 800, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

I’d gotten the long distance images of the Bald Eagles at Farmington Bay that I wanted to take plus close up images of this adult eagle as it flew past me. It was a great morning to be with the eagles.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Bald Eagle photos plus facts and information about this species.