Bald eage & nest

[dale65bama]

I was at a site near Crystal River, FL this afternoon to check on this bald eagle nest. I was about 400m away from it. With the resizing, I lost the EXiF, but bot were at ISO100, f6.7, 1/750s with my 200mm+2X extender. It is not the ideal setup, but it is what I have. I see a few dust motes that need blowing away, too! I could probably get closer, but today I was not interested in being wet with brackish water and really needed a companion along for safety - really rough walking with a lot of trip hazards, holes in the limestone, and pockets of soft muck :p .

The nest is over 2m wide in the top of a pine tree. My self-imposed deadline to leave the site was 2 pm. I had been in the same spot for over an hour, and my deadline arrived but NO EAGLES. I shouldered by backpack, closed the tripod legs, put it on my shoulder to hike back to the car, and took one last look as I began to walk. There they were! A few steps back reposition everything and got a few picture.

I have monitored this nest for 15 years and the occupants are incredibly successful. In most years they have fledged 2 young and at least one managed to do 3!

Dale

[woody64]

Wow, the size of that nest is incredible.

[Cooper911]

These shots really put the size of these nests in perspective. Thanks for sharing these.

[canonloader]

Great set Dale. Gives a good perspective of the size of things. :)

[dale65bama]

Thanks for the comments. In Florida, the nesting season for bald eagles and ospreys typically runs from October to May, rather than in the spring as in more northern climes!

Dale