Leaning Post Bald Eagle

After my recent visit to Bear River MBR I wanted to share photos of a Bald Eagle on a leaning post that can be seen from the road leading to the auto tour loop.

Winter Bald Eagle on a leaning post – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/5000, ISO 800, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

The Bald Eagle wasn’t there first thing in the morning when I was driving to the auto tour loop. I found it perched on the leaning post when I was heading back to the interstate. Photographing Bald Eagles on this leaning post has almost become a winter tradition for me at the refuge.

The first time I photographed a Bald Eagle perched on this post was in March of 2010, which was at the end of my first winter in Utah. I was thrilled to photograph a Bald Eagle on that post then.

All these years later, I am still thrilled to photograph the eagles on the leaning post which has been leaning slightly more towards the ground each year.

Stern looking Bald Eagle on a leaning post – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/4000, ISO 800, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

I’d love to get a photo of one of the Bald Eagles lifting off from the leaning post but so far I have not been able to accomplish that feat.

I love the marshy setting in the images I have taken of the eagles on this post which sometimes shows a ribbon of ice and sometimes a ribbon of water behind the post and eagle. On clear days distant mountain hillsides can be seen. Two days ago there was a bit of haze building up due to our winter inversion by the time I took these photos so those hillsides are hidden.

My favorite time to photograph a Bald Eagle on the leaning post is just after the sun rises over the Wasatch Mountains because of the warm, golden glow that can be seen for a few, brief minutes in the morning.

Life is good.

Mia

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