{"id":101302,"date":"2022-04-02T05:22:09","date_gmt":"2022-04-02T11:22:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=101302"},"modified":"2022-04-02T06:16:07","modified_gmt":"2022-04-02T12:16:07","slug":"young-golden-eagle-on-a-cliff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/04\/02\/young-golden-eagle-on-a-cliff\/","title":{"rendered":"Young Golden Eagle On A Cliff"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"YoungYoung Golden Eagle and its shadow \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1250, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

I found and pointed out quite a few birds yesterday but my favorite was this young Golden Eagle on a cliff in morning light because it was so beautiful. The setting with the lichen covered rocks and bright blue sky complemented the warm brown plumage of this immature eagle. In this image a breeze had fluffed up the golden crown of the large, dark bird as its shadow fell on the cliff below it.<\/p>\n

\"YawningYawning young Golden Eagle \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1250, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

From a slightly different view point I was able to photograph the young Golden Eagle when it yawned. I don’t often get views like this of this species or find such a cooperative Golden Eagle so I took full advantage of the opportunity and took hundreds of photos of this bird.<\/p>\n

\"ImmatureImmature Golden Eagle’s “crown” \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

Then from another view point I took images of the striking immature Golden Eagle<\/span><\/a> where I could see the individual golden feathers of its crown being lifted up by a chilly breeze. Those feathers truly look like a crown in this photo.<\/p>\n

\"ImmatureImmature Golden Eagle on a spring morning \u2013 Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/1600, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

This immature Golden Eagle was a thrill for me to photograph. For many years I considered this species a nemesis because it seemed like something always went wrong when I’d find them in the field. It was years before I took photographs of this species that I really liked.<\/p>\n

\"ImmatureImmature Golden Eagle in a breeze \u2013 Nikon D500, f8, 1\/1250, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited<\/span><\/p>\n

When I first spotted this Golden Eagle from a distance I thought it might be a Turkey Vulture. I took my first of season Turkey Vulture images prior to finding this eagle yesterday and they were still on my mind. Then I saw the white in this bird’s tail feathers and immediately knew I had found “gold” and not another vulture. I kept hoping that the young eagle would lift off while I had it in my viewfinder. It didn’t but I was happy to have seen it at all.<\/p>\n

Other Raptors Of Note From Yesterday:<\/h2>\n

It was a joy to find eight late Rough-legged Hawks that still haven’t migrated to their breeding grounds including one intermediate morph. That bird was a thrill to see and photograph because I haven’t found that many intermediate morphs while I have lived in Utah.<\/p>\n

I also saw but didn’t photograph my first of the season Ospreys yesterday. I saw a pair on their nest when it was still dark when I could barely make out their shape and their white markings. Later in the morning I saw one of them in good light on their nest on the way home.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a><\/span> to see more of my Golden Eagle photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I found and pointed out quite a few birds yesterday but my favorite was this young Golden Eagle on a cliff in morning light because it was so beautiful.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":101287,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,1148,1200,26],"tags":[4345,2663,4008,5460,5131,5080,4098,3903,3133,5025,1201,4067,3291,4378,4099,4104,153,4470,1994,165,30,5822,340,4193],"class_list":["post-101302","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-box-elder-county-utah","category-golden-eagles","category-utah","tag-aquila-chrysaetos","tag-birds-of-prey","tag-box-elder-county","tag-breeze","tag-cliff","tag-crown","tag-desert","tag-eagle","tag-eagles","tag-feathers","tag-golden-eagle","tag-immature","tag-lichen","tag-morning","tag-morning-light","tag-perched","tag-raptors","tag-rocks","tag-shadow","tag-spring","tag-utah-2","tag-yawn","tag-yawning","tag-young"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/golden-eagle-immature-spring-mia-mcpherson-8463.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-qlU","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7189,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/01\/20\/small-in-the-frame-bald-eagle\/","url_meta":{"origin":101302,"position":0},"title":"Small in the Frame – Bald Eagle","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 20, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday Ron, Brian Gatlin and I went to Bear River National Wildlife Refuge and the Golden Spike National Historic Site area in bad light, falling snow and lake fog looking for birds to photograph and we came up pretty much empty-handed but we did find this adult Bald Eagle perched\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Bald Eagles"","block_context":{"text":"Bald Eagles","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/diurnal-raptors\/bald-eagle\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Bald Eagle \u2013 Small in the frame, Golden Spike National Monument, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/bald-eagle-snow-mia-mcpherson-2740.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/bald-eagle-snow-mia-mcpherson-2740.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/bald-eagle-snow-mia-mcpherson-2740.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/bald-eagle-snow-mia-mcpherson-2740.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12335,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/12\/28\/someday\/","url_meta":{"origin":101302,"position":1},"title":"Someday… I’ll Get My Dream Golden Eagle Photos","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 28, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I have had so many opportunities with Golden Eagles and each time something goes wrong.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Golden Eagle in flight over Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/golden-eagle-mia-mcpherson-8316.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/golden-eagle-mia-mcpherson-8316.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/golden-eagle-mia-mcpherson-8316.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/golden-eagle-mia-mcpherson-8316.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":100203,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/02\/25\/the-golden-eagle-utahs-official-state-bird-of-prey\/","url_meta":{"origin":101302,"position":2},"title":"The Golden Eagle – Utah’s Official State Bird Of Prey","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 25, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning I would like to celebrate the State of Utah's newly designated official state bird of prey, the Golden Eagle.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Close up Golden Eagle in flight, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/golden-eagle-flight-close-up-mia-mcpherson-9218.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/golden-eagle-flight-close-up-mia-mcpherson-9218.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/golden-eagle-flight-close-up-mia-mcpherson-9218.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/golden-eagle-flight-close-up-mia-mcpherson-9218.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":41342,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/08\/26\/golden-eagle-turkey-vultures-plus-a-covey-of-gray-partridges\/","url_meta":{"origin":101302,"position":3},"title":"Golden Eagle, Turkey Vultures Plus a Covey of Gray Partridges","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 26, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I spent time in northern Utah yesterday and I was able to photograph a juvenile Golden Eagle, Turkey Vultures plus a covey of Gray Partridges.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Juvenile Gray Partridge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/gray-partridge-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-3166.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/gray-partridge-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-3166.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/gray-partridge-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-3166.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/gray-partridge-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-3166.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":118724,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/12\/04\/adult-golden-eagle-on-the-wing\/","url_meta":{"origin":101302,"position":4},"title":"Adult Golden Eagle On The Wing","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 4, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Back in November of 2017, I took this photo of an adult Golden Eagle flying past a ridge in Box Elder County. I'm not sure why I never shared it until today.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Golden Eagle on the wing, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/golden-eagle-adult-box-elder-mia-mcpherson-9811.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/golden-eagle-adult-box-elder-mia-mcpherson-9811.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/golden-eagle-adult-box-elder-mia-mcpherson-9811.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/golden-eagle-adult-box-elder-mia-mcpherson-9811.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":89681,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/06\/01\/adult-golden-eagle-in-flight-in-the-wasatch-mountains\/","url_meta":{"origin":101302,"position":5},"title":"Adult Golden Eagle In Flight In The Wasatch Mountains","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The last time I was in the Wasatch Mountains I had a brief window of opportunity to photograph an adult Golden Eagle in flight.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Golden Eagle in flight in the Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/golden-eagle-adult-wasatch-mountains-mia-mcpherson-0688.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/golden-eagle-adult-wasatch-mountains-mia-mcpherson-0688.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/golden-eagle-adult-wasatch-mountains-mia-mcpherson-0688.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/golden-eagle-adult-wasatch-mountains-mia-mcpherson-0688.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101302","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101302"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101302\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/101287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101302"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=101302"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=101302"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}