Bald Eagle Takeoff

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Bald Eagle Takeoff

October 16, 2019 by Mike Powell

Any day that I spot a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a good day. Yesterday qualified as a great day when I was able to capture an image of a Bald Eagle taking off from the slender branches of a tree at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

I was a bit shocked when I initially spotted the eagle perched in a cluster of leaves overhanging one of the trails at the wildlife refuge—presumably there was a branch in there somewhere, but it did not seem substantial enough to hold the weight of an eagle.

I zoomed in all the way with my 150-600mm lens and was able to get a pretty detailed shot of the eagle, as you can see in the final shot. The eagle turned its head in various directions and I knew that I did not have much time before it decided to take off. When the eagle turned its body toward the water and began to crouch, I tried to ready myself and anticipate the direction of its initial movement. In most of the shots in the burst that I took, the eagle’s wings blocked its face or extended well beyond the edges of the frame, but I was pretty happy with the one that I posted as the initial photo in this posting.

Why did the eagle choose such a precarious perch? I have no idea why, but I am happy that it gave me the chance to get these shots.

Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Bald Eagle, bald eagle takeoff, Canon 50D, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 17 Comments

17 Responses

on October 16, 2019 at 10:08 am | Reply joyroses13

Awesome! All great shots!
on October 16, 2019 at 10:38 am | Reply Michael Scandling

I am so envious.
on October 16, 2019 at 11:27 am | Reply Wally Jones

Very nice! Majestic, aren’t they?
on October 16, 2019 at 1:55 pm | Reply Laura (PA Pict)

I love the drama and dynamism of that first shot and the way the eagle’s bright head is framed between those dark, curving wings.
- on October 16, 2019 at 2:14 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Laura. Once again your lyrical words help to express so wonderfully what I like about the photo–drama and dynamism. Static portraits are nice, but there is something extra special (and extra challenging) about action shots.
on October 16, 2019 at 2:43 pm | Reply Reed Andariese

Very Nice Mike! Always Great to See & Photograph Eagles! Also Great to see Your Photos of Eagles!!!
on October 16, 2019 at 4:21 pm | Reply sv-anui.com

Nice series of shots, Mike.
on October 16, 2019 at 10:36 pm | Reply Ellen Jennings

Excellent captures, Mike, and you are so right about it always being cool to see an Eagle!
on October 17, 2019 at 1:16 am | Reply Leanne Cole

Such an incredible bird, you are so lucky to be able to photograph it.
- on October 17, 2019 at 6:43 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Leanne. I am blessed to live in an area with a good number of Bald Eagles. They are amazingly powerful and majestic and are extra special to me because they are our national bird.
on October 17, 2019 at 1:03 pm | Reply Jill Kuhn

Wow!! Such awesome shots! Such a magnificent bird! 🦅
on October 17, 2019 at 4:48 pm | Reply Dan Antion

I guess he didn’t see any problem with it, Mike. Confidence.

Great photos!
on October 18, 2019 at 1:40 pm | Reply Daffodil's Photo Blog

Love these photos of the Bald Eagle! I’ve seldom seen one here/ Such beautiful birds!
on October 25, 2019 at 3:03 am | Reply Rob Moses Photography

Beautiful shots!
- on October 25, 2019 at 7:47 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Rob. I was fortunate to be in a position to get the shot–I am thrilled every time that I am lucky enough to see a bald eagle.
  - on October 25, 2019 at 1:32 pm Rob Moses Photography
    
    I hear that! Keep up the good work.
on January 7, 2020 at 8:00 am | Reply Looking back at 2019—part two | Mike Powell

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