Fly like an eagle

January 30, 2021 by Mike Powell

I love watching Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) flying so effortlessly in the sky, propelled by their massive wings and the currents of air. Quite often they soar so high that they are beyond the range of my camera, but this week I was able to capture some images of them at a somewhat lower altitude while I was visiting Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

I would love to be able to fly so freely above all of my earthbound cares and can’t help but think of some of the lyrics of “Fly Like an Eagle” by the Steve Miller Band.

“I want to fly like an eagle
To the sea
Fly like an eagle
Let my spirit carry me
I want to fly like an eagle
‘Til I’m free.”

The other thought that inevitably comes to mind when I see eagles in flight is a promise from Isaiah 40, one of my favorite verses in the Bible, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

During this pandemic time, we all need that kind of strength and endurance and hope as we continue our daily struggles, looking forward to a time when we too will soar again.

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Bald Eagle, Bald Eagle in flight, Haliaeetus leucocephalus | 22 Comments

22 Responses

on January 30, 2021 at 8:55 am | Reply shoreacres

Never mind the lyrics — it only took reading your title for the music to start playing in my mind. The Band’s song would make a great soundtrack for a video of birds like these.
- on January 30, 2021 at 9:12 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  For folks of our generation, the title is definitely enough to bring the song to the forefront of our minds. The lyrics are more for the benefit of any younger readers who may be less familiar with the song. I agree with you about using the song as a soundtrack.
on January 30, 2021 at 9:23 am | Reply Reed Andariese

Nice Mike! Always enjoy seeing your Eagle images!
on January 30, 2021 at 9:24 am | Reply Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography

Certainly great shots, crisp and clean. And of course now we will all be hearing Steve Miller all day 😂😂
- on January 30, 2021 at 9:40 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Ted. We are all showing our age, but there are probably worse musical groups you could have in your ear. 🙂
on January 30, 2021 at 9:28 am | Reply Brian Stewart Hall

beautiful shots
- on January 30, 2021 at 9:56 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Brian.
on January 30, 2021 at 9:50 am | Reply Molly Lin Dutina

Perhaps ‘mount up on wings like eagles’ means we need to NOW cling to the strength of the Lord. He lifts us up and carries us above the fray if we will allow Him!
Thanks!
on January 30, 2021 at 10:26 am | Reply picpholio

Must be great to be an eagle 🙂
on January 30, 2021 at 11:56 am | Reply doerfpub

Lovely shots Mike – I also really enjoy shooting these majestic birds.
- on January 31, 2021 at 8:05 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I am really blessed to see eagles fairly often and never pass up a chance to try to photograph them. It is always a fun challenge, because the eagles have far bette eyesight than I do and quicker reactions.
on January 30, 2021 at 3:45 pm | Reply Dan Antion

Excellent!
- on January 31, 2021 at 8:05 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Dan.
on January 30, 2021 at 7:18 pm | Reply Eliza Waters

Beautiful shots and message, Mike. We do need the strength of eagles these days.
- on January 30, 2021 at 8:03 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Eliza. I’ve noticed that a number of my recent postings have overtly tried to raise the spirits of my readers. It seems like we all need that as we near the one year anniversary of pandemic restrictions.
  - on January 30, 2021 at 8:10 pm Eliza Waters
    
    The effort is appreciated!
on January 31, 2021 at 5:47 pm | Reply nliakos

These are so beautiful, Mike. Did you watch the 2 recent PBS Nature shows on Alpine wildlife? They showed Golden Eagles. Interesting how those eagles pump their legs as they fly, whereas the Bald Eagles seem to let their legs trail out behind, close to their bodies.
Thanks for the Biblical verses and the song lyrics, so appropriate.
- on February 1, 2021 at 7:21 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Nina, for the info about the PBS nature shows on the Alps. There are a couple of full episodes on the PBS website that I will be sure to watch.
on January 31, 2021 at 6:58 pm | Reply joyroses13

Great post! A wonderful verse and beautiful shots of the Eagle.
- on February 1, 2021 at 6:26 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks.
on February 2, 2021 at 3:15 am | Reply krikitarts

Just the other day one of our grands asked me what superpower I would like, if I could choose one, and my immediate answer was the ability to fly. It’s been a lifelong dream, and one that fairly-regularly occurs to me during REM sleep. Whenever I am able to watch an eagle or a gull or a gannet or, especially, an albatross in flight, my soul takes flight and soars with them.
- on February 2, 2021 at 6:38 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  One of my readers mentioned a new PBS series on the Alps that, among other things, shows Golden Eagles in flight. The photography is amazing. The episode is viewable for free until 10 February on the website (https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/the-high-life-the-alps-zjvyxc/23635/).