Morning Eagle

This morning we were out at the salt marsh watching Mr. Cranky along with another spoonbill and a good assortment of other birds all of which Mr. C seemed to get along fine with. I’ll post some photos of that over the weekend…

I also saw a juvenile and an adult bald eagle but they were both rather far out in the marsh. However, at one point, we glanced over at a pine tree at the edge of the marsh and saw this adult eagle sitting there with a front row seat to all the action. We figure the eagle must have snuck in through the back door since none of us saw him arrive.

When the eagle first got there several mockingbirds were buzzing around his head apparently annoyed at the his presence. The eagle seemed to be unimpressed by the mockingbirds fussing and mostly just ignored them. I set up on the eagle hoping to get the jump off from the tree and after a bit of squawking it finally took off and headed back out over the salt marsh to continue on with his day.

43 thoughts on “Morning Eagle”

Lyle Krahn on October 11, 2013 at 2:51 pm said:

Any day you can see an eagle is a good day. Nice work not blinking when he took off!!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 11, 2013 at 3:14 pm said:
  
  That’s exactly right.
  Well I got lucky this time, nobody came up to talk to me or ask me a question at the exact second of jump off.
  
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Patrizia M. on October 11, 2013 at 2:52 pm said:

Splendido uccello, è bellissimo e tu hai fatto scatti magnifici.
Ciao, Pat

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- Phil Lanoue on October 11, 2013 at 3:15 pm said:
  
  Sono molto felice che ti piace questi aquila foto
  Grazie Pat
  
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Pride in Photos Photography on October 11, 2013 at 3:24 pm said:

Oh I would say he was not happy with this intrusion….unbelievable as usual!!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 11, 2013 at 3:30 pm said:
  
  The mocking birds were hysterical buzzing around the eagle’s head and landing on nearby branches. I’ll have photos of that up in the near future. Thanks so much for checking these out!
  
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dinajohnston on October 11, 2013 at 3:27 pm said:

Amazing take-off shots! Nice details in the face.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 11, 2013 at 3:32 pm said:
  
  Thanks a million, so glad you enjoyed these!
  Exposure on the eagles can be tough. You try to maintain detail in the white head and the wings go too dark. Expose for the wings and you blow out the head. Anyway…I’m always happy to see these guys. 🙂
  
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vastlycurious.com on October 11, 2013 at 3:56 pm said:

Beautiful Blog! Amy led me in!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 11, 2013 at 4:09 pm said:
  
  I really appreciate you looking and commenting and glad Amy opened the door for you. 🙂
  
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  - vastlycurious.com on October 11, 2013 at 5:30 pm said:
    
    She did indeed!
    
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    - Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2013 at 5:01 pm said:
      
      She’s OK that Amy. 😀
      
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      - vastlycurious.com on October 13, 2013 at 9:03 am said:
        
        Yes she is :))
        
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edithlevyphotography on October 11, 2013 at 4:37 pm said:

They are so majestic. Fantastic captures Phil.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 11, 2013 at 4:42 pm said:
  
  Thanks a bunch Edith, I’m happy you enjoyed the eagle photos.
  
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ventisqueras on October 11, 2013 at 4:39 pm said:

extraordinaire shots!

🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on October 11, 2013 at 4:43 pm said:
  
  Well I really appreciate you looking and commenting, thanks!
  
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HansHB on October 11, 2013 at 5:10 pm said:

Awesome flight shots!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2013 at 5:01 pm said:
  
  Thank you for your kind words Hans!
  
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Gunta on October 11, 2013 at 5:46 pm said:

What a piercing look. Wouldn’t want to be in his sights at all. GREAT shots as usual. Amazing, really. Keep at it, you might get good someday! 😉

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2013 at 5:02 pm said:
  
  Yeah I would not want that thing coming at me with that look and those skyhooks at the ready. 😯
  Glad you enjoyed these eagle photos!
  
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Deb W. Trotter on October 11, 2013 at 8:45 pm said:

Very cool photos of a beautiful bird. Thanks Phil!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2013 at 5:03 pm said:
  
  I really appreciate your kind comments Deb, thanks much!
  
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adinparadise on October 11, 2013 at 9:12 pm said:

Well he certainly does not look amused, Phil. Great shots again. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2013 at 5:04 pm said:
  
  The mockingbirds had given up trying to run him off by the time I took these shots but he was not impressed by the little guys at all. I’ll have to post some photos of that encounter, some were pretty funny.
  Thanks for looking Sylvia!
  
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Jean-Paul on October 12, 2013 at 2:14 am said:

very nice picture Phil 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2013 at 5:04 pm said:
  
  I’m happy you liked them Jean-Paul!
  
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janmasyn on October 12, 2013 at 5:22 am said:

Great shots Phil, the Bald eagle is a beautiful bird of prey.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2013 at 5:05 pm said:
  
  It is a handsome bird for sure and I am always happy for any opportunity to view and photograph one.
  
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foxleylady on October 12, 2013 at 6:18 am said:

Such crystal-clear, stunning action shots, with a super background, Phil! I would love to see a mockingbird! Always associated it with the South, as in “To kill a …” etc.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2013 at 5:06 pm said:
  
  I’ll have to post a few shots of the mockingbirds standing on a branch with the eagle looking at it, some were kind of comical. Not for the little guys though I’m sure.
  
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Kitt Crescendo on October 12, 2013 at 1:40 pm said:

I’ve always found such majesty in eagles! I’m glad to live “Where the stars and stripes and eagles fly”. 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on October 12, 2013 at 5:07 pm said:
  
  The bald eagle is great to see and I’m always thrilled to have a chance to photograph one in the wild like this. 🙂
  
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Becky cribb on October 12, 2013 at 7:26 pm said:

The backgrounds looks almost like a snow background. Terrific shots!

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- Phil Lanoue on October 13, 2013 at 3:37 pm said:
  
  I had not thought about the background like that but you are right, the grey overcast sky does look almost like snow.
  Thanks for checking these out Becky!
  
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Garden Walk Garden Talk on October 12, 2013 at 7:32 pm said:

Love your eagle shots.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 13, 2013 at 3:38 pm said:
  
  I’m quite pleased to hear that, thanks.
  
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Charlie@Seattle Trekker on October 12, 2013 at 8:00 pm said:

There is something that is so amazing and so majestic about bald eagles…great photos.

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- Phil Lanoue on October 13, 2013 at 3:38 pm said:
  
  I really enjoy watching and photographing these birds for sure. Thanks very much Charlie!
  
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timalil on October 13, 2013 at 9:45 am said:

wow! 🙂

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- Phil Lanoue on October 13, 2013 at 3:39 pm said:
  
  Thanks much for checking these out I appreciate it!
  
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pixelspielerei on October 13, 2013 at 10:55 am said:

These are stunning , fantastic pictures! Compliment, dear Phil! ▲

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- Phil Lanoue on October 13, 2013 at 3:39 pm said:
  
  Thank you so much for your kind comments!
  
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