EIF

Was on our way back from visiting family up in NJ when about 40 mins into the 5 hour trip I saw this HUGE Eagle sitting in the top of a tree...I actually turned around to get a pic of him....I was about 300 or more yards away and just as I got the camera on the monopod and bam he took flight and landed on the ground and than immediately back into the air( i think he caught something to eat)...I am a huge noob with BIF's and this is the ONLY pic i was able to get snapped off...tracking a flying eagle when you are not used to it is EXTREMELY difficult....C&C very welcome from tips to tracking and about PP

oh and this is a pretty good crop too

Thanks
Steve

When I first looked, I thought he had some nesting materials, but I guess not if he grabbed it that fast. I never found tracking to be that difficult. I use center focus point and just try and stay loose and keep the bird in the center of the viewfinder as much as possible. And keep on shooting in high speed burst mode.

It looks like 'soft material' for a nest...they use grasses, pine straw (to help with the odors) etc for the nest bowl. I've seen the Eagles I follow do this (no photo opps yet) and they're on the ground only for a second and then back in the air.

I agree with Mitches suggestions.

Well, that's interesting, if he grabed a handfull of grass and left fast like that. It really doesn't look like anything with a tail on it though. Too big to be a mouse or mole, too small to be a coot or duck.

You've followed Eagles more then I have Mitch and I'm not doubting you...I think Eagles wouldn't mess with small prey but who knows. I've seen the male Eagle go into a flower bed at the Botanical Garden after some Pine straw and come up empty for his efforts...I guess it's hit and miss when they get to the ground.

Thinking on it, it's quite possible he did both. Maybe he saw a mouse or vole messing around in a tuft of grass and took the vole, grass and a handfull of dirt in his sweep.

thanks guys...just wish I could have gotten a better pic and MORE of them too....I really cant even begin to tell you how HUGE he looked compared to every other eagle I have ever seen.