Bald Eagle with Prey - 04/27/2006

Bald Eagle with Prey
Originally uploaded by Nikographer [Jon].

One shot closer to the shot I want to take/get of an eagle fishing... I've gotten 2 or 3 now, and all have been from pretty far away.

Close Encounter of the Great Blue Heron Kind [1] 2

Close Encounter of the Great Blue Heron Kind [1] 2
Originally uploaded by Nikographer [Jon].

And this shot too:


View 1024 or 1600

Taken at Centennial Lake in MD, my new favorite (close) spot.

When I was heading towards the eagle in the tree (see previous shot where I must have flushed him out) I realized there was an area with a bunch of cover and some tree branches leaning in to the water. I headed over there and found a spot to sit on a log and setup my camera and monopod. After a minute I realized that just down the way past some more branches was this Heron.

I was about 30 or so feet away and it put up with me for half an hour and 150 pictures. I actually left in the middle and went to my car to change batteries and he stayed put!

I've got a bunch more to post, but here's the first 2 for flickr.

(2006_0425_D70_2158 copy)

Shooting info:
Nikon D70s, 2006/04/25 18:29:09, Compressed RAW (12-bit), Image Size: Large (3008 x 2000), Lens: VR 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6 D, Focal Length: 400mm, Exposure Mode: P-mode, Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern, 1/125 sec - F/8, Exposure Comp.: +0.3 EV, Sensitivity: ISO 400, Optimize Image: Normal, White Balance: Cloudy, AF Mode: AF-S, Color Mode: Mode Ia (sRGB), Tone Comp.: Auto, Hue Adjustment: 0°, Saturation: Normal, Sharpening: Auto.



See also:

beachhead

beachhead
Originally uploaded by Hawaiian beach.

All I can say is WOW!

Return of the Fish Carrying Eagle in MD [1] 2 - 04/13/2006

Return of the Fish Carrying Eagle in MD [1] 2
Originally uploaded by Nikographer [Jon].

I am not sure if it's the same eagle as from last week, but who knows it could be...

I've seen eagles flying over and past Greenbelt Lake 3 times now. I've been there about 6 times by now I bet.

Shot taken today, 04/13/2006.

-Jon

One of my last shots on my D200.... before I considered it dead

One of my last shots on my D200.... before I considered it dead
Originally uploaded by Nikographer [Jon].

Taken at Greenbelt Lake in Maryland.

Last month my D70 died and I sent it in for repairs, and then got a D200 to get me by. Now I have the D70 back, and well, the D200 went belly up. The problem appears to be the mount and the contacts/electronics. When shooting, the camera flips between communicating with the lens properly, and then thinking it is a non-CPU lens and freaking out. I brought it to the store today and they're sending it out for repairs.................... It was acting up just for a couple of days.

But at least I've got my D70.

Bald Eagle in Virginia

Bald Eagle in Virginia
Originally uploaded by Nikographer [Jon].

A shot from Mason Neck. In related news the female Eagle, Martha, at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge site was attacked last week and was resued by bridge workers. George is left to fend for the hatchlings on his own for now.

WWB press release:
http://www.wilsonbridge.com/pdfs/pressReleases/pr2006-0407.pdf

News Video:
http://video.wjla.com/wjla/eagle0407.wmv

C-17 Globemaster

C-17 Globemaster
Originally uploaded by AviWolf.

This is a really cool shot.

-Jon

Bald Eagle in MD w/ Fish April 5th 2006 (4/5/2006)

Bald Eagle in MD w/ Fish
Originally uploaded by Nikographer [Jon].

So, I got a bunch of pictures today of a Bald Eagle flying by with a fish in its grasps!

It flew from the southwest to the northeast and passed over the D.C. Beltway (Interstate 495) heading northeast roughly. This happened a bit before 6pm.

-J

p.s. I saw a Red-Shouldered Hawk this morning outside work, and got a few ok shots, but the eagle trumped it.