This Bald Eagle was almost hidden in the foliage of a sweet gum tree when I spotted it on Thursday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Normally I depend on the brightness of a bald eagle’s head to give away the presence of an eagle, but in this case the eagle’s head was in partial shade, making it stand out quite a bit less than it usually does.
The second shot shows a view of the eagle from a different angle. Even though this shot does not show as much detail as the first shot, which was actually taken after the second one, I like the way that it shows how the eagle was nestled on its perch amidst all of the branches.
In the upcoming months, many of the leaves will fall from the trees and it will become marginally easier for me to spot an eagle from a longer distance away. Of course, that will also make it easier for the eagles to spot me and my vision and reflexes are rarely a match for those of the eagles. Often my first indication of an eagle’s presence is when it takes to the air and flies away from me.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Wonderful photos of this regal bird, Mike and beautiful highlights of the sweet gum tree, too.
Thanks, Jet. I usually have trouble identifying trees, but the spiky seed balls of the sweet gum tree are pretty distinctive. As I am sure I have mentioned before, I never pass up an opportunity to photograph a bald eagle, even when it is partially hidden or far away.
So majestic!