Tuesday, January 26, 2010

The eagle has landed

In one of the trees in our yard this afternoon, after the rain and the wind had finally subsided, my husband saw an eagle land. And he did exactly what I would have done.

He quickly ran into the house and got the camera. He put on the long lens and he got right back out there.

Part of being a decent photographer is to simply show up. That’s what I say.


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I think he did a pretty good job of capturing this bald eagle.

Odd that a bird with feathers all over its head has the name bald. However, back in the year 1200 a language was spoken called Middle English. The Middle English word balled (or balde) meant "shining white" and was a reference to the mature bald eagle's white head (Choate 1973).


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Bald eagles tend to be in areas where there is a large amount of water-to-land edge, such as seacoasts, rivers and lakes. These areas provide an abundant source of their primary food, fish. In Oregon, 87% of bald eagle nests are within one mile of water. (Palmer 1988a; Farrand 1988). (Anthony and Isaacs 1989)


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Females are larger, but both sexes are between 28 and 38 inches in length and have a wingspread between 66 and 96 inches (up to eight feet!). Females weigh between 10 and 14 pounds, males between 8 and 9 pounds (Palmer 1988a).


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They can fly between 36 and 44 miles per hour. One was clocked at 30 miles per hour carrying a fish. (Terres 1980).


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And then he flew away towards the water. This is the view from the field in front of our house, on the other side of the wood. In the center of the photo, you can see a bridge. The water is not far, really.


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And that concludes our lesson for today. There will be a test on this subject later on in the week, so I do hope you were taking notes.

Not really. Although you’d probably be into that, wouldn’t you?!!


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A test?
I want to take a test!


George loves tests. Especially if there is a squeaky toy involved. Or a stick.

Until tomorrow, my friends . . .



Thanks, as ever, for your continued visits, for your kind words and for your friendship.

55 comments:

abb said...

That is all kinds of exciting!

The Bramble Patch said...

Incredible!

Hilary said...

I don't know about your husband, but I would have broken my neck getting back out there.
Wow, what an opportunity, and what nice photos.
I am SO jealous.
Not really.....but I wouldn't mind if an eagle landed right outside.....

Low Tide High Style said...

How beautiful, great pics! We are lucky enough to have a pair that perch in the old dead tree in our backyard nearly everyday! They are so majestic and I never knew that that's what the name "bald" eagle meant!

I also always assumed that the larger of the two was the "male"...my bad! They will sit with one on the creek and the other on the river side and call to one another. We've been here for almost 3 years and it still amazes us and sends us running for the camera!

Thanks for the info, and I don't really like tests, but I do like learning new "stuff" so thanks for sharing!

Kat :)

Linda said...

I saw my first bald eagle ever this fall. We live on the shores of Lake Keowee in NW South Carolina. It was magnificent! And tragic because I didn't have my camera!!!!

Cloudia said...

Exciting post, great pictures, especially the one of George anticipating a test.


Aloha, Friend!


Comfort Spiral

Cindy said...

Fantastic catch! Hi George.

Gail said...

Awesome! There is sheer majesty in these birds.

Anonymous said...

Your husband did a great job catching the eagle. What a wonderful opportunity....I would love to photograph an eagle. I live less than a mile from the ocean and have never seen one here. I will have to keep and eye out for one! Thanks for sharing. Denise

maria from nj said...

Kudos on the pics. Beautiful creatures. We have a hawk that live on the campus and its a thrill when we see it. Although I can live without watching it dine on a squirrel.

Molly said...

WOW! (both the opportunity and the photos)

beth said...

lucky you for having a quick hubby and WOW...we never see eagles land....

sooooo cool !

Sweetpea said...

CG, we have an eagle's nest on our property. It was here before we were. The pair that *own* it have produced an eaglet every year for the last six years. We have been blessed with observing their comings & goings & carrying-ons for all this time.

But what I most wanted to tell you is that about 4 years back, just before we broke ground for our house, the construction company sent a surveyor. He was a Native American. When he learned of our eagle activity, he said something to me that I will always remember. He said we were very fortunate. He said that the belief in his culture was that if an eagle visited your property, it was a good omen. It meant that the Spirit was protecting you...

Just wanted to share that.

Linda@Coastal Charm said...

What beau-ti-ful pics... I went to Auburn University and I'm a HUGE AUBURN fan (I guess I would be)...before each of our home football games our EAGLE flies in the stadium...it's soooo AWESOME...WAR EAGLE!

Blessings,
Linda

Michelle said...

I love the photo of the bridge! Such a lovely overview. George, of course, is wonderful as always, and your DH did well, too. But the bridge....

Brynwood Needleworks said...

Kate:
I had a pair of bald eagles flying over the house today. They've been around all week, and I have to say they are truly the most awesome sight. (And "awesome" is not a word I regularly use!)
Love the photos today.
xoxo
Donna

Hilary said...

Aren't they just incredible? I was so excited to see the Bald Eagle family up at Frank's cottage last summer. What a treat. He got some wonderful shots.

Sue said...

What amazing photographs...Your husband did a great job. I have never seen an Eagle in person before...I just always see those damn buzzards down here....and i love all the beach pictures and ofcourse the one he took of you...that was realy a great shot...He's getting very good.

Pony Girl said...

Cool capture! I pass by an eagle in "his" tree on the way home from work almost every day. It's pretty neat, how they've made a "comeback" and are more common now.

Shana Putnam said...

That is so awesome that he got that on camera. Beautiful animals. Reminds me of the movie fireproof and the book of course where they are talking about the eagles.

Julie Harward said...

GREAT SHOTS, WAY TO GO HUSBAND! WE HAVE THEM HERE TOO, I'M ALWAYS AMAZED BY THEM! AND YOU HAD TO THROW THAT SHOT OF GEORGE IN DIDN'T YOU...BE STILL MY HEART! LOL COME SAY HI :D

Skogkjerring said...

How majestic! Your husband did a great job of capturing that amazing bird and you did a stunning job as always of capturing George- though I'm assuming he was easier then the bird...hehehehe..

Jo said...

Those are beautiful shots of the eagle. We have nesting grounds of bald eagles just outside of Vancouver, and there was a life webcam placed in one of the nests. People were able to watch the mother eagle raising her young. It was amazing.

Barb T. said...

How magnificent!!!

ANETTESHUS.COM said...

Wow!! Beautiful shots of the eagle!!!

Anette:)
xx

Deb said...

You manage to find the most amazing shots, Kate. So majestic!
Just last week, I noticed an owl in the trees across the way. Without a zoom lens, I am afraid I wouldn't have done this bird justice. Anyway, that is my contribution today.

Char said...

wow - fantastic

the closest i've been (besides the zoo) is when it was soaring up so high that even my instructor's 400mm showed it as a speck.

Nurse Nancy said...

So beautiful. My FlyBoy would have cried at the sight. Bald Eagles do that to him.

The JR said...

Fantastic shots. The only one I've seen in the wild is the one I photographed driving into New Orleans. My shots were not very good.

Love the picture of George.

Anonymous said...

Your husband did a marvelous job. Thanks for sharing.
Lynda in Michigan

Deb said...

great photos by your husband...I took notes just incase their is a test later on...interesting facts on the bald eagle...I always wondered by they called them bald...now I know...

Mary said...

Wow... I mean WOW!!! How cool is that?! Great job Mr. CG!

Jill of All Trades said...

Oh my goodness, that is just awesome.

GailO said...

I just love Sweetpea's story...it is nice to know that you are being watched over:)

Wonderful capture Mr CG!

It has taken a long time for eagles to make a comeback after the use of DDT was banned...

altar ego said...

Yes, showing up is essential for taking pictures. GREAT shots of the eagle. Lucky you! (and George)

Unknown said...

Bald Eagles are really flourishing in Northern MI now. I was at my cabin with my brothers petting cows one day when an eagle came swooping down over our heads! Then two more burst out of the woods after it. Then we looked up and saw five more! Eight in total were flying around above the trees. There is a nice private lake near by the cabin.

Flea said...

Your husband did a great job. We saw eagles all the time in Orlando, but I never took their photos. :(

RURAL said...

Although there are probably many eagles in the neighboring fields around the cities, we rarely see them.

But last year, when we were driving down a major hiway, after a hard winter storm, we counted over 22 of them, lining the road. It was thought that there might be more prey available for them due to the road being clean of snow.

A pretty amazing sight.

Jen

Ellen said...

I saw my first eagle in person in Alaska - they are truly a beautiful and majestic bird - certainly worthy of being our national symbol.

Your husband is certainly developing an eye for photography. What a beautiful set of photos.

Country Girl said...

Thanks, all. And Sweetpea, I loved your story. Can't wait to tell my husband about this lore.

~ C.G.

Daryl said...

Fantastic .. I need to show ToonMan how to use my new camera ..

mom x 2 said...

Coolest picture!! That's amazing! They are such beautiful birds.

Anonymous said...

Great pictures! Please be sure to thank your husband and George! Thanks for the history lesson about the eagles, too. I see lots of them where I live, but it's always nice to see them up close.

BTW, since I didn't comment on yesterday's post, WONDERFUL photo of YOU, Kate!

duchess_declutter said...

Great photos - thanks for sharing.
What a truly magnificient bird - has been interesting to learn more about them through comments.

Carolynn Anctil said...

Excellent photos. They are truly majestic birds aren't they? And, impressively large, up close. It's considered very good luck to have one fly over your head, I've heard. Maybe I'm making that up. Sounds good, though, doesn't it?

Caroline said...

OMG...how awesome! Wonderful photos!

cottage farm villa said...

George just loves his picture taken! He amazes me each photograph.

Great info on the belove bald eagle. What a gorgeous bird ... a sight to be seen.

A Scattering said...

Just saw and photographed (blurry, at a great distance)my first Bald Eagle about 10 days ago - it was flying over a river. Crossing my fingers to see it in the same area again. Your sweetie is becoming quite the gungmis-ho photographer, must be from the talent and enthusiasm rubbing off from you!

RoseMary King said...

Dear Kate,
Love,love,love the photos. Please thank your husband for being so alert to such a magnificent visitor. Give him a big kiss from me. Hugs and kisses.

DesertHen said...

Majestic!!

Love the photo of George. Looks like he is playing peek-a-boo..=)

FireLight said...

Absolutley amazing...such a regal creature. This post made me think of my favorite short story that I ever taught in junior high: "The Erne from the Coast" written by T. O. Beachcroft. You could probably find it online.

Anonymous said...

Dee from Tennessee

WOW!! Just wonderful...and what great photos!! We saw our first eagles last year in a neighboring county after a friend told us about their nest. My pics weren't worth a dime though...blurry, blurry. But I would just get so excited and shaky when I would just see one swooping in...they are just so magnificent! Tell hubs thanks!!

Tess Kincaid said...

Magnificent! Never seen one so up close and personal in my little neck of the woods! Super shots, Kate.

mary said...

Loved the photos of the eagle. How exciting. By the way, it that the St. Georges bridge in the background of that photo??

thecatalanway said...

Wow all kinds of things to say!
First what a fantastic experience to see this eagle so close. Great photos and I love that you put up so many of them. I also love the little facts - I too always wondered why the name 'bald'. Now I know...or i do until I forget again.
Great bit about George - of course he loves tests - he's a collie and he'll always come out top!
Well,now the Me Me Me bit! the first January post only had three comments and I felt pleased as you too had to build up an audience. But ONE YEAR LATER you had more than 40!!! Jealousy. But you know Kate I have to admit - the reason you have such a lot of admirers is because you are so darned good(excuse the non-UK english:))
And don't take me seriously - I'm not really jealous - you deserve it and I just want to improve as much as I can and you are a great teacher in how to do this. lots of love to you this January day and I really enjoyed the flight through time. Till next time! Kate xx