Eagle profile

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Eagle profile

March 18, 2020 by Mike Powell

No matter how many times it happens, it is always exciting to see a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Last week I spotted this one at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge and I was happy when it presented me with a chance to take this profile shot.

I had watched as the eagle flew to this tree and stealthily approached it. I was able to get relatively close, because the eagle was looking away from me and could not see me moving closer. However, the butt-first pose that it presented to me is not the most flattering for any creature, so I waited and hoped that the eagle would change its position. After what seemed like an eternity, the eagle moved its head to the side and I was finally able to get a few shots in which the eye was visible. Patience paid off one more time.

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, spring, wildlife | Tagged Bald Eagle, Canon 50D, eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 14 Comments

14 Responses

on March 18, 2020 at 8:21 am | Reply Reed Andariese

Nice Mike! Always enjoy your Eagle images! Hope all is well!!
- on March 18, 2020 at 8:41 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Reed. The roads near the eagle nests are now blocked off at the wildlife reserve where I shoot a lot, so I will have to be quite lucky to get any decent eagle shots in the upcoming couple of months. Fortunately, though, some ospreys have returned.
on March 18, 2020 at 8:44 am | Reply Birder's Journey

Fabulous shot of this magnificent bird, Mike! What a pose…. certainly worth the wait!
- on March 18, 2020 at 8:55 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. Sometimes I will try to send a telepathic message to a bird to get it to turn in the desired direction, but that doesn’t seem to work, so I end up waiting. 🙂
  - on March 18, 2020 at 8:58 am Birder's Journey
    
    Lol😅
on March 18, 2020 at 9:13 am | Reply Platypus Man

Great shot!
on March 18, 2020 at 11:17 am | Reply Michael Scandling

Regal.
- on March 18, 2020 at 4:32 pm | Reply Ms. Liz
  
  Regal Eagle 🙂 That’s got a real ring to it ! Nice one Michael 🙂
  - on March 18, 2020 at 4:40 pm Michael Scandling
    
    That’s hilarious. I wasn’t even thinking of that. Thank you.
on March 18, 2020 at 9:39 pm | Reply Ellen

Oh, I love this pose! I enlarged the photo as Benjamin always had me do and I thought that the Eagle wanted to say : “What are you waiting for, take the picture already!” Thank-you, Mr. Mike!
- on March 18, 2020 at 9:57 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Ellen. I love your narrative. 🙂
on March 19, 2020 at 4:32 pm | Reply Ellen Jennings

Great capture, and you can never walk away from an Eagle shot! Especially when there were no leaves to block your view.
- on March 19, 2020 at 5:40 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. It won’t be long before I switch from shooting mostly birds to shooting a lot of insects, in parts because I can’t find the birds when there are leaves on the trees. 🙂
  - on March 20, 2020 at 8:31 pm Molly Lin Dutina
    
    Your work is a blessing, again!