Gladstone IL for Bald Eagles

The Corps of Engineers website on Dec 28th (https://www.mvr.usace.​army.mil …le-Watching/Eagle-Counts/) is reporting over 800 eagles near Lock 18 on the Mississippi River at Gladstone IL. Does anyone have experience with photographing Bald Eagles at that site? I'm planning to head out there this week.

downhillonwater wrote in post #19462199
The Corps of Engineers website on Dec 28th (https://www.mvr.usace.​army.mil …le-Watching/Eagle-Counts/) is reporting over 800 eagles near Lock 18 on the Mississippi River at Gladstone IL. Does anyone have experience with photographing Bald Eagles at that site? I'm planning to head out there this week.

I haven't been to that one but went to Rock Island and Quincy. Both were a while ago and the longest lens I had was a 100-400mm and I really needed a lot more. There were no where near the numbers you are talking about. I believe when we went it was in the 20~50 range or so. It would be fun to go back with the equipment I have now. I guess my advice is to bring the longest lens you can get hold of.

gjl711 wrote in post #19462227
I haven't been to that one but went to Rock Island and Quincy. Both were a while ago and the longest lens I had was a 100-400mm and I really needed a lot more. There were no where near the numbers you are talking about. I believe when we went it was in the 20~50 range or so. It would be fun to go back with the equipment I have now. I guess my advice is to bring the longest lens you can get hold of.

Good Advice. The river is around 1500 ft wide at the dam.

Not sure about Gladstone. There was a thread about lock and dam 14. https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1356684

It doesn't really matter how many eagles they are stating at one dam or another. The most critical factor is how close can you get to them while they are fishing. I believe L&D 14 is in the top 5 in the US for places to get good captures of eagles fishing. There are tons of examples on this thread I started some years ago: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=820444

I've been to L&D 13, 14, and 15, and I'd rather go to 14. I started going there in 2009 and I've been skunked a number of times, but if you go on a sunny day with the winds mostly out of the west and spend an afternoon there until around 4:00 pm, you are likely to get some good shots.

Chris wrote in post #19468581
It doesn't really matter how many eagles they are stating at one dam or another. The most critical factor is how close can you get to them while they are fishing. I believe L&D 14 is in the top 5 in the US for places to get good captures of eagles fishing. There are tons of examples on this thread I started some years ago: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=820444

I've been to L&D 13, 14, and 15, and I'd rather go to 14. I started going there in 2009 and I've been skunked a number of times, but if you go on a sunny day with the winds mostly out of the west and spend an afternoon there until around 4:00 pm, you are likely to get some good shots.

Thanks for the info. Very helpful.