« September 2008 | Main | November 2008 »
October 2008
Jericho Wild Bald Eagle Mates
Now that low tide summer days are over, I am concentrating my attention on the bald eagles' nest at Locarno Park by the Jericho Youth Hostel in Vancouver. Sometimes I stand around the group of trees where the nest is for hours without seeing anything. Other times the eagles are so active I can't even capture it all with my camera.
Today I am able to get a few good shots. I step onto the soccer field across the street from the eagles' trees and immediately spot one of the mates, the male I think, coming in for a landing. I just barely have time to rip my camera from its case, pull off the lens cap and power it up to snap a shot.
I'm quite pleased with my split-second reflexes!
With such a good omen of timing, and the fact that the clear blue winter light is really good for the camera, I decide to hang around for a while. Despite the cold.
The bald eagles are quite busy, they appear to be working on building the nest. They are taking turns hanging out in the cottonwood trees across NW Marine Drive (where the nest used to be) and the group of trees above the Parks Board yard where the nest is now.
The male eagle flies past with a rather large branch for the nest. The shape of the wing tips in mid flight looks kind of cool.
Then the other mate flies past me quite close. The wings look almost purple in this light.
Busy bald eagle lifts off from the top of a tree next to the nest tree.
I follow the eagles across the street to the cottonwood trees. Luckily the trees are bare of leaves at this time of year so I am able to get some clear shots.
Kind of a weird angle swooping down from above, this shot is of the eagle's underbelly. It looks kind of in reverse the way the wing is bent.
In the cottonwood trees, I think this is the female bald eagle mate. She has a rather cross look on her face as her glance passes over me!
Well, that's enough for today. It's been hours and I'm a bit frozen, the sun is going to start going down and I need a nice hot cup of tea to warm up. I will return another day soon to visit our local wild bald eagles nest.
-Keta
Wild Bald Eagle Close Up!
After all my luck this season with the adult bald eagles, the various juvenile bald eagles and even the bald eagle baby from the Jericho nest, I hardly expect to see any more when I step out onto the tidal flats at Spanish Banks in English Bay (Vancouver) for one of the last low tide days of the year. The water is quite close to shore compared to the record lows of June.
Instead of trying to get to the sand bar, favourite fishing spot of bald eagles and great blue heron alike, I walk west, parallel to shore. Its a hot sunny day and the beach is filled with noisy families enjoying the late summer day. On the tidal flats are a few adventurous dog walkers and other die hards.
I turn a corner and am astounded to see an adult bald eagle - looking rather wet - sitting comfortably on the sand! Not 30 meters from shore. I simply can not believe my luck. The bald eagle sees me but doesn't even flinch. I approach carefully, camera at the ready.
Its head is wet, probably from fishing. When I'm able to look closely at the shot, I see there is a piece of seaweed stuck in its beak, with a drop of water dangling on the end.
It looks perfect enough to be a postcard!
Detail of just the head. Wow, wow!
A quick glance about gives me confidence that there are no clueless people, or unruly dogs, coming this way to chase my subject off (as often happens). I have time to change lenses, and to set up a nice shot that includes the bald eagle's reflection.
S/He's turned its head the other way for this one.
I'd like to get more but something sends it flying off.
My days of wandering the tidal flats are numbered, until next year. At least I will still have the bald eagle nest site at Jericho to visit!
-Keta
KetaDesign
Juvenile Bald Eagle and Crow
I skirt by the bald eagles' nest by the Jericho Youth Hostel at Locarno Park in Vancouver but don't see either of the adults or the eagle baby. As expected. The adult eagles have taken the newly-fledged eagle baby up after the salmon run. They will likely return without him, then take a break through the winter before they start nesting again in February.
I head out on the tidal flats at Spanish Banks to find any of the other adults or maybe some of the juvenile bald eagles I have seen through the summer. Usually I head straight to the water's edge, but today I think I spot something interesting closer to shore still quite a ways west of where I am now. As I make my way closer I hope nothing sends it into flight before I can get there with my camera.
I am lucky that there are not too many people in the direct vicinity. Most beachgoers today are either taking in some rays on the sand or out at the edge of the low tide, a full kilometer into English Bay. There is a juvenile bald eagle perched on a log, with a pesky crow in attendance. I sneak up carefully, moving around so I can get a shot of both of them.
It really gives some perspective as to the eagle's size.
(pesky crow peeking out from behind the log, like it knows it's a big pain in the butt!)
Eventually the crow flies off and the juvenile bald eagle has a moment to itself, gazing out over the open ocean. What does it see, I wonder?
(check out those claws, do NOT get in the way!)
As usual with the juvenile bald eagles s/he is soon on the move. Again with a pesky crow in attendance. This shot gives another demonstration of the size difference.
A funny shot from behind of the juvenile bald eagle landing.
Soon s/he flies back to the trees. I wander about on the tidal flats for a bit before heading home. At one point another juvenile bald eagle flies over head, is it a new arrival or is it in some of shots of previous days?
Summer is waning, we're well into September now. Low tide days are becoming fewer, and the tide doesn't go out nearly as far so I have to be really quick. Not sure what the coming weeks will bring but I will be out with the camera as much as possible!
-Keta
Baby Bald Eagle Hunting
I can't resist returning to the bald eagle's nest site at Locarno Park by the Jericho Youth Hostel (Vancouver) to see what my eagle baby is doing. It's only been a few days but I miss him. I visit the clump of trees where the nest is first but can't see or hear him. I wander over to the beach to check his favourite tree above the path.
It's quite early in the morning, about 7:00, but there are already a few people about on the beach. I run into another regular eagle observer, who tells me I have missed some amount of activity in the past few days. Darn! Isn't that always the way?
It seems that the bald eagle mates have decided its time for their eagle baby to fledge from the nest and start fending for himself. They stopped feeding him a few days ago. The fellow even tells me he saw the male adult eagle deliberately catch a seagull out of the air right in front of the eagle baby, who was busily occupied with his usual repeated calls for food, and ate it right there without sharing any! Apparently when the eagle baby flew to where his papa was eating the adult took the prey and flew away.
The baby bald eagle is not in his favourite tree, but rather high up in a much taller tree, calling away almost frantically. The adult eagles are nowhere to be seen. I can feel the excitement welling up in me, something important - and hopefully wonderful - is going to happen here today. It sure was worth it to come down so early!
None of the other people out at the beach even notice the wildlife activity. I have the camera ready and am watching for any signs of flight or motion from the eagle baby.
He takes a first tentative swoop around the beach (he's in the white circle, it's not a very good shot but I just want to show the surroundings).
"on silent wings" is not a joke . . . those people enjoying an early morning coffee on the beach did not notice the eagle flying right in front of them.
The eagle baby returns to a tree for a bit of a think.
He takes off from the branch suddenly and starts . . . almost as if in a rage . . . . trying to chase down whatever seagulls and crows are right there on the edge of the water. I frame the camera to get some houses in the background but miss, don't even notice that the waning moon had snuck into my shot!
Seagull screaming for its life, with good reason - notice the white seagull feather in the baby eagle's claw.
Of course these wily shorebirds manage to elude the baby eagle, who then returns to his tree top perch and calls and calls and CALLS to his parents for food.
The male adult eagle returns, takes a spot at the top of a neighbouring tree and just sort of looks out over the water as if this is an ordinary day. The baby eagle can't stand it anymore and decides to make his demands for food more insistent.
Baby cries and cries, Papa pays no mind.
Eventually the adult eagle flies off again. The baby pouts for a while then starts to try hunting once again.
I set myself at the midway point of this activity so far; between the lifeguard stand in the first photo and the two trees the eagles have used so far, with the ocean in front of me. The baby eagle is really frustrated, and must be almost mad from hunger. This is a very important time in their development and going without food for several days must be a real hardship.
Soon the eagle baby gives up and is headed back to his tree top perch. Now is my chance, I am down on one knee in the sand to steady the camera. The eagle baby is flying directly towards me
(this series of shots is within just a few seconds, seriously *click* *click* *click* one after the other)
darn, missed some wing feathers on the right side
Does he look angry in the eyeball or is it just me?
One more shot but unfortunately the eagle baby is actually too close (I had the telephoto on, 75-300mm) so its out of focus. I swear on my life that if I had stood up the eagle baby would have flown right into me. That close.
The eagle baby returns to his tree once more, I am on the verge of having a heart attack at the excitement, and maybe two or three other people on the beach begin to notice what is going on.
I have blown off two rolls of film and spent over an hour here. Eagle baby is just making a real ruckus up in his tree and I decide its time to go. I head up the hill home almost giddy with happiness.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Later that morning I am out in my yard having a cup of tea still enjoying the morning's work, when I hear the eagle baby. I actually for a moment think I have lost my mind. I live directly up the hill, ten blocks from the eagle's nest, and also up from the Spanish Banks tidal flats.
I put down my teacup and go up the back steps to look around, still not exactly trusting my sanity. Then I look far up into the sky and I see the eagle baby and the adult female, his mama, way, waaaay up in the sky circling. I can feel the joy coming off him. It seems like he has just realized what its all about, and instead of calling for food is calling, "I'm an eeeeeeeeeeagle! I'm an eeeeeeeagle!!". I run to get the camera but don't bother taking any shots. It would just look like two spots against a blue background.
I never see my eagle baby after that. The adults take him that very afternoon up the coast after the salmon run. Usually eagle mates have to lead their chicks away from the nest, or else they will compete for food with the next year's babies.
I'm sad my eagle baby is gone, but glad the cycle of nature is continuing. Besides, it's going to be another low tide day soon and I my juvenile bald eagle friends to try to find at Spanish Banks!
-Keta
Three Juvenile Bald Eagles!
After the delightful success of yesterday I am back down at Spanish Banks for the low tide, looking for eagles. Maybe I'll get lucky and get some more really good close up shots of a juvenile bald eagle!
Hey . . . is this the same one as yesterday? Kind of looks like it by the colouring. It just sort of whizzes by though, so I don't get a chance for more shots.
I head out to my favourite sand bar, that forms out by the shipping channel in English Bay. It's a good half hour walk. As usual I keep my eyes open for any eagle sightings on my way out.
As I approach the sand bar I see another juvenile bald eagle, this is a different one for sure. It has much darker colouring and a completely different shape from the one I captured images of yesterday. Also it's head, I mean it has a totally different face. It will be easy to spot in the future!
It's quite skittish of me, as the other juvenile bald eagle from yesterday was. I pretend I am just walking past, but kind of skitter sideways - like a crab almost - keeping my head turned away. Maybe it won't notice that I'm actually getting closer. Hey man, I'll try anything! I've even walked towards an eagle backwards, spinning around at intervals to snap a shot.
This juvenile a slightly preoccupied with a fish in its claws.
Even still I can't get nearly as close as I'd like. It takes off, making its way down the sand bar (towards the west).
Forgive the graininess of this shot, the juvenile bald eagle really is a bit of a distance off. I just can't resist snapping a photo of the moment it makes a landing.
I don't have the heart to try to get close once more, because I just know I will end up making it fly. It should really get a chance to eat its lunch in peace. Besides, if I become too much of a pest the bald eagles will acclimate to being frightened of me and I don't want that. I want to come down and be able to sneak up reasonably close for some quality shots well into the future.
After a while I give up on hoping another eagle will land on the sand bar. The tide has turned anyway, I can see the water is coming back in. I head back to shore, but instead of walking the entire distance on the freshly exposed sand, I head directly to the beach nearest me (Spanish Banks West).
I've barely set foot on the path when something unusual in a low tree nearby catches my eye. Just like my baby bald eagle at the Jericho nest site (I'll going back in a few days, don't worry I haven't forgotten the little guy!), this juvenile bald eagle is sitting in a low branch of a small tree just above the path. Right on the edge of the beach.
This is the lightest-coloured one I have captured images of yet. The golden colours through me off a bit, various passers by stop to chat with me as I am taking photos and we discuss whether it's a golden or a bald eagle. It is, of course, a juvenile bald eagle. That is three distinct juveniles within a relatively small distance in one day! I'm so excited right now.
I love it when the bald eagles look right at me. I feel like I'm really interacting with nature.
Hmm, that's some pretty sharp eyeballs.
The ever-present pesky crow (or two, or three, or dozen).
Finally after a long time and many shots the juvenile bald eagles decides to go do something more interesting and takes off from the tree. Pretty good action shot!
The juvenile bald eagle has lifted off from the tree top, starts to pass over me. Again that sharp eyeball.
Kind of a weird angle, awkward shot as the eagle flies over me. I decide it's a female, for some completely unknown reason.
Well, it's been another great day for the camera during low tide at Spanish Banks in English Bay (Vancouver). I will be returning once again, to see what our lovely local wildlife has to offer.
-Keta
Juvenile Bald Eagle
English Bay in Vancouver, BC Canada enjoys a very low tide for a few days every couple of weeks during the summer. I like to go down to the Spanish Banks tidal flats, which empties out for several square kilometers. When the tide is at its lowest in mid-June people can walk all the way out to the shipping channel, right up to the channel markers actually, to a place that is usually under about three meters of water.
My favourite part about spending a few hours here is when I am able to capture images of wild bald eagles and wild juvenile bald eagles fishing. Or sometimes they are just sitting on the sand!
I am heading out to the farthest point of the low tide, at the sand bar, when I come across this fellow. The juvenile eagles are so difficult to capture because they are much more skittish than the adults. Several times during this series of photos s/he prepared to fly away. Perhaps his/her curiosity of me kept it calm. Or perhaps I am getting much better at being super-sneaky in getting close!
Such pretty colouring! The juvenile eagle is looking at me like its not sure about this . . .
. . . but sticks his/her ground nonetheless as I circle around to get some shots with a different background.
This juvenile eagle looks plump and healthy. I like the golden colours, many bald eagle juveniles are quite a bit darker.
Finally s/he has had enough of my proximity and flies away, but kind of unhurrdly, almost lazily wafting.
I like these two shots because you can really see the colouring of the juvenile eagle feathers, one from below the wing and one from above. When the bald eagles get their adult colours you can't really see the three layers of the feathers on the top of the wing anymore, they are all dark brown and tend to blend into each other. This shot really sets that off.
Well, another fruitful day chasing wild bald eagles around the tidal flats at Spanish Banks in English Bay (Vancouver). I will for sure come down with the camera again tomorrow, it's going to be another good mid-day low tide!
-Keta
My Web Site
Recent Posts
Friends
Gardening
The Tyee
Vancouver Blog Links
StumbleUpon
- StumbleUpon
http://
Stumble It!
