Last week I managed to maneuver myself so that I had a clean line of sight to one of the Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Most of the time my view is at least partially blocked by vegetation or the eagle flies away before I can get myself into position.
This eagle was perched on a broken off tree, not far from a nesting site. I extended my 150-600mm telephoto lens to its maximum length and watched and waited. Fortunately I was using a monopod to steady my camera and lens, so I was able to keep my camera and raised for an extended period of time and the eagle adjusted its feathers and monitored the area from its high perch.
After a while, I noticed that eagle was getting a little fidgety and I correctly anticipated that the eagle was preparing to take off and managed to capture a couple of images as it was doing so. It may sound like a pretty straightforward process, but in fact the eagle has lots of options when it takes to the air—it can fly off in any direction and at any height.
When I am in this kind of situation, I feel a bit like the goalkeeper for a penalty kick in a soccer (football) match. I know that there will be a moment of decisive action and that I will have to react quickly. I will watch my “opponent” for telltales signs of his intentions, but ultimately I will have to commit to one direction as I “guess” when and how it will act. Sometimes the goalkeeper makes the save and sometimes he is outsmarted by the offensive player—that, in essence, is the story of the life of a wildlife photographer.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Awesome! Thank you for sharing your adventures!
I wish I had your skill for taking bird photos.
Awesome, great shots. Beautiful light.
Thanks, Michael. As you could see, I was blessed with a blue sky and sunlight, a welcome sight after a long series of gray, cloudy winter days.
You ate welcome.
These are beautiful, powerful images. The lead performer taking his/her rightful place in the spotlight, centre-stage against a clear blue sky. Congrats on these wonderful shots Mike!
Thanks, Liz. Many of our winter days have gray, cloudy skies, so the brilliant blue skies were a welcome sight. 🙂
Looks like you scored! 🙂
Thanks, Eliza. The analogies get a little mixed, but I definitely think I came out on top in this encounter. It feels really good when a good opportunity arises and I am able to take advantage of it.
Nice series, Mike, and fabulous clarity on the bird!
Thanks, Ellen. I was blessed to have pretty good light and a nice blue sky, which helped make these shots even nicer. 🙂
Nice analogy, and shots of course 👏👏
Beautiful shots. Your patient has been paid off.
Thanks. My patience is one of the most important factors in getting good shots. I am willing to spend a lot of time out in the wild, most of the time merely watching and waiting, never knowing for sure if I will have a chance to get a shot. Sometimes, but not always, that patience is rewarded, which was definitely the case with these photos of the eagle.
Great series Mike. I love your Eagle shots!
Thanks, Chris. I always feel excited when I spot a Bald Eagle and doubly so when I manage to capture some good shots.
These are stunning shots, Mike!! I enjoyed your sports comparison and your remark about the decisive moment. Just when I thought I’d ask if you were using a tripod, you mentioned using a monopod – thanks for all the detailed info.