Some subjects are so awe-inspiring that I get excited just seeing them, even if they are too far away for a good photo—like this Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) that I saw Monday at my local marsh. The eagle seemed to sense my presence and took off before I could get closer, but I managed to capture an image of its final preparations for takeoff from the branch.
When I am walking through the woods at this time of the year, I have to keep my eyes in constant motion. Leaves are still sparse enough on the trees that I am still able to spot some birds in the trees. However, insects are starting to appear too, so I have to scan the leaves and branches on the ground for these little creatures.
On early Monday morning, as I looked through a break in the trees, I caught sight of a large bird in the distance, sitting on the end of a branch. I immediately stopped, having learned from experience that even a single step forward would be likely to spook the bird. The light was not great, but the shape suggested to me that it was probably a bald eagle.
The eagle looked around for a few seconds and then took off. At that moment, I was absolutely certain that it was a bald eagle. I was not so certain that I had captured any useable images, but I was content just to have experienced the sight of that majestic bird in flight.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
Sometimes the camera gets in the way of enjoying the wildlife, don’t you think?
I agree with you, Sue. Sometimes I’m trying so hard to capture the experience that I am not sure I enjoy the experience to the full extent. On the other hand, I am so much aware of what is going on around me, because of all the attention I have given to photography, so it’s a kind of double-edged sword.
Usually when I see something like this I’m so surprised and awe struck that I forget I have a camera. It doesn’t happen often enough to ever get used to it, and maybe that’s a good thing.
When one can both appreciate the moment to the fullest and bring the camera to bear in time, I see it much more as a double rainbow than a double-edged sword.