So there I was shooting a muskrat in our local wetlands when I hear this swoop over my head. I figured it was just a goose or a large raven. I turn around and this is what I saw. This is very rare, over the years I have heard of Eagles being spotted in town (the wetlands is in the middle of suburbia where I live) , but in 10 years checking that place out I have never seen one.

I had no time to adjust any settings , barley enough for three quick clicks and then he was gone. Still pretty pleased with at least one of the shots. I figured he was like the Terminator sizing me up and processing the information. Quickly analyzed ... naw big bald fat guy too much work, then eyed the camera and determined it was a non food item and away he went.

Click on image twice for larger view

[bertwert]

Nice!

[photolady95]

Good enough! Specially not being able to get your settings right. TFS

[daacon]

Nice!

Thanks bertwert I imagine a much more common site where you are form.

Good enough! Specially not being able to get your settings right. TFS

Thanks photolady95 yep sometimes it's better to be lucky than good

[PeggyR]

You got the focus where it needed to be - that's what counts. And that's one intimidating stare. Good shot.

[bertwert]

Thanks bertwert I imagine a much more common site where you are form.

Yep, they are.

[slowpez]

Quite a nice catch Dave. I never tire of seeing a baldy.

[daacon]

Quite a nice catch Dave. I never tire of seeing a baldy.

Thanks Susan appreciate the comment.

[DW58]

Lookin' right at ya. Very cool.

[Tom Gotzy]

Great capture of the "Baldy"!

[mattb123]

Nice catch! He definitely has a bead on you.

[eaglem]

Very good capture which took great timing......

[daacon]

Lookin' right at ya. Very cool.

Thanks DW58 appreciate it.

Great capture of the "Baldy"!

Thanks Tom right place right time.

Nice catch! He definitely has a bead on you.

Thanks Matt he does indeed think we was debating if the camera was a food source he knew I was but likely too much trouble

Very good capture which took great timing......

Thanks EM good to be lucky sometimes.

[K-Three]

Quite a nice catch Dave. I never tire of seeing a baldy.

I agree with that,
Grew up mostly in the DC area, in the '70s, remember vividly having a captive bird brought into a class room and being told it was unlikely we would ever see them in the wild. Silent Spring and all that. Chesapeake Bay was a mess at that time, still is not in great shape, it was the prime habitat for the eagles and ospreys in that area.

Now living in the Seattle area, and see them regularly, even see them from the 9th floor of my office tower, looking over Elliot bay, amongst all the freighter and ferry traffic.
Even though I see them several times a week now, it's a thrill every time. A reminder that there is still a wild world out there.

Nice capture, daacon
Good you got the eyes and head sharp, but I can't figure out why the wingtips are so soft at f/18? Did you do something in processing?

[daacon]

I agree with that,
Grew up mostly in the DC area, in the '70s, remember vividly having a captive bird brought into a class room and being told it was unlikely we would ever see them in the wild. Silent Spring and all that. Chesapeake Bay was a mess at that time, still is not in great shape, it was the prime habitat for the eagles and ospreys in that area.

Now living in the Seattle area, and see them regularly, even see them from the 9th floor of my office tower, looking over Elliot bay, amongst all the freighter and ferry traffic.
Even though I see them several times a week now, it's a thrill every time. A reminder that there is still a wild world out there.

Nice capture, daacon
Good you got the eyes and head sharp, but I can't figure out why the wingtips are so soft at f/18? Did you do something in processing?

Thanks K-Three it is not so much the post processing as the shutter speed - like I mentioned he caught me by surprise and I was lucky to get any shot at all