When it is frigid and windy, perhaps your imagination turns to a tropical beach somewhere. Maybe that is what this Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was thinking yesterday when it perched at water’s edge at low tide at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, when the wind chill made it feel like it was way below the freezing level.
As you may be able to tell, I was shooting almost directly into the sun, which forced me to significantly overexpose the shot to keep the eagle from looking like a silhouette. I really like the way that the way that the water turned an almost pastel turquoise, enhancing the sense of this being a tropical location, at least in my mind.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Great shot, Mike. I’m glad you knew what to do to get him looking so good.
Awesome shot!
The scene does look tropical. I love the idea of an eagle having a relaxing paddle.
It is always hard when the beautiful bird does not cooperate fully by facing the sun!