Golden Eagle

Last year, in December, I went to Sweden with the goal of taking some dramatic shots of the majestic Golden Eagle. I had a great experience, even though the bad weather conditions and not that much luck, prevented me from coming back home with the great pictures I was hoping.

In April, I went to visit Conny again, this time to photograph the Black Grouse during the mating season. Since the birds stop fighting around 9:00am, the rest of the day was available to focus on different species, and I asked Conny to stay in the eagle hide to try again and shoot this wonderful bird.

So every day, after a one-hour drive back from the lek to the house, and after having some breakfast, I was going to the eagle hide to spend the afternoon there.

Unfortunately, the first three days passed with no eagle showing up: the following day was going to be my last chance and I was preparing myself "psychologically" to get home once again without the eagle shot. 

On the fourth day I arrived to the hide as usual, after passing the first hours in the early morning with Conny at the Black Grouse lek. Some time passed without anything special happening, but then, finally some luck: I saw a shadow passing over the hide, a glimpse of the Golden Eagle, and it landed on the trees nearby. I took some shots with the second camera placed on the side of the hide while the eagle flew, over my head, to land again, but this time just in front of the hide. The dominant male, an old eagle that had been visiting the site for many years.

               400mm f/5.6 1/1000sec ISO320 +1

               400mm f/5.6 1/1250sec ISO320 +1

               400mm f/5.6 1/1250sec ISO320 +1

The majestic bird was very close, just a few meters from me. I am glad I had placed there the 5D MkIII, set in silent mode – I do not know what would have been its reaction from hearing a normal shutter sound. I was moving my lens extremely slowly, not to scare the eagle and I was able to admire and photograph that bird for almost 50 minutes: just the eagle and myself.

No fights between birds, dramatic shots in the snow or contest winning pictures, I know, but such a close encounter with the Golden Eagle was really special.

               800mm f/8.0 1/320sec ISO1000

               800mm f/8.0 1/640sec ISO1000

               560mm f/8.0 1/1000sec ISO640 -0.33

               800mm f/8.0 1/1000sec ISO1000

               400mm f/8.0 1/2000sec ISO1000

               200mm f/6.3 1/250sec ISO640

               560mm f/6.3 1/1600sec ISO640

               200mm f/6.3 1/1000sec ISO640

               200mm f/6.3 1/1600sec ISO640

               560mm f/6.3 1/250sec ISO640

Searching for the Golden Eagle – Day 3

Here we are, ready for a new day, after the boost got yesterday from seeing our first eagle. After breakfast we head for our spotting site. Weather is not too bad, even though it's not fully clear. Luckily for me and Valerio, our luggage came in yesterday as announced and we are able to wear something warmer: we are below zero, and even if it's not too cold, it's nice to wear some extra layers!

Same routine as yesterday and soon we hear ravens and little birds coming. That is a good thing and we maintain maximum silence not to disturb the birds: that helps creating a "safe" scenario that should "call" the eagles and make them feel at ease. More birds are coming today and the squirrel visits us again as well.

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM f/5.6 1/60sec ISO 6400

                                     EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM f/5.6 1/160sec ISO 1600

                                  EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM f/5.6 1/160sec ISO 2000

Conny listens carefully to the sounds around us and can tell some eagles are around. After some time, conditions are perfect, with a very nice light, but no eagle decides to show up at that moment... and we try to relax taking pictures of the ravens. Something is in the air, though, and Conny and Ally show us a dead tree where they say the eagle often sits, before getting down.

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @560 mm f/5.6 1/200sec ISO 640 +1

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @560 mm f/5.6 1/250sec ISO 1250 +0.67

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @560 mm f/5.6 1/250sec ISO 800 +1

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT + 2X III @800 mm f/8.0 1/80sec ISO 800 +1

And finally, there it is: the male lands on the dead tree and we take our shots. I do not want to push the ISO here, and light is not great, so shutter speed is far from ideal, but the eagle is quite close. The bird seems posing for us, with a regal posture, showing off all its beauty.

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM f/5.6 1/50sec ISO 640 +1

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM f/5.6 1/100sec ISO 640 + 0.33

A short flight and it's down. We shoot, being careful not to make too much noise. Single shot is preferable and whenever the eagle stops eating to look around, concerned, we wait a couple of seconds before shooting again.

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @560 mm f/5.6 1/400sec ISO 2000 +0.67

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @560 mm f/5.6 1/400sec ISO 2000 +0.67

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @560 mm f/7.1 1/500sec ISO 2000 +0.67

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @560 mm f/7.1 1/640sec ISO 2000 +0.33

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT + 2X III @800 mm f/8.0 1/160sec ISO 800 +0.33

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT + 2X III @800 mm f/8.0 1/125sec ISO 1250 +0.67

At a certain point the bird flies to land on a tree nearby, always confronted by the ravens that look like they are absolutely not afraid, actually even look like challenging the golden eagle.

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @560 mm f/7.1 1/200sec ISO 2000 +0.67

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @560 mm f/9.0 1/125sec ISO 2000 +0.67

The eagle flies away. It seems it's not the only one in the area. A new couple is taking a look around and that might be a possibility for fights. But unfortunately that doesn't happen. 

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @560 mm f/5.6 1/250sec ISO 2500 +0.67

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @560 mm f/5.6 1/400sec ISO 3200 +0.67

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @560 mm f/5.6 1/320sec ISO 2000 +0.67

Later in the day, an old eagle comes to the site. It's the first time Conny sees her this year, she usually comes a little later in the season, and he's happy to see she's still alive. This one is very hungry and keeps eating. Light is gone now, and it's no use to keep trying shooting, since we need to go up to (and over) 25,600 ISO and that is creating so much noise that the final result is totally off our desired standards.

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @412 mm f/5.6 1/125sec ISO 8000

We can't leave, though and we need to wait until is safe to go without being seen.

We return to home base happy because today we have been able to take some shots, but not completely satisfied at the same time because of the hard conditions that the little light forced us to work with. We'll see what's come out after we edit the photos.

We decide to rest tonight and after dinner we  take the opportunity to chat a little altogether and to admire Ally's photos taken during her past visits. Those are so beautiful that we are completely speechless. Valerio and I are very jealous, but at the same time we receive great inspiration to continue in our adventure.

Searching for the Golden Eagle – Day 2

After a few hours of sleep, we woke up this morning excited for the first "real" day of the eagle adventure. We meet at 5:30am for breakfast to be ready to leave at 6:00am. It's still dark and it's important to arrive on the site before the morning light, not to be seen by the birds that might be controlling their territory.

Valerio and I have to manage with what we have in our carry-ons, since our luggage didn't come in, yesterday. Luckily Sabrina got hers. The weather is not great but not too bad either and we get onto Conny's truck to head to the hide. After leaving the car, a short walk brings us to a marsh area, now covered in a white icy-frosty layer and there we'll wait for the eagles.

We receive Conny's last instructions on how to "behave" and after setting all the camera equipment, we just sit waiting for the dawn, half sleeping, half thinking at what to expect from the day.
Today (and for the rest of the stay) with us is awesome British photographer Ally Hensen. She's been photographing the Siberian jay in the past couple of days and she is now turning her attention to the eagles. This is not the first time she's been here and she hopes for more good pictures from this trip.

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM f/5.6 1/160sec ISO 1600

             EOS 5D Mark II – Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM f/5.6 1/200sec ISO 1250 +0.33


Soon the tits start making us hear their voices, as they approach: Great tit, Willow tit, Blue tit come to look for food. As soon as the light is enough, we start concentrating on these little birds while waiting for the eagles. Not only tits, but also a squirrel stops by, as well as a European jay and woodpeckers. In particular Great spotted woodpeckers and a species I had never seen before, the Grey-headed woodpecker. The latter is very elegant and I try to take a good picture since it's my first. It is still pretty dark, though and I need to push the ISO quite a bit... I am afraid a lot of noise will result because of that.

             EOS 5D Mark II – Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM f/5.6 1/20sec ISO 800 -0.33

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM f/5.6 1/200sec ISO 1600


Hours pass by, and light is better now. A Bullfinch comes too, it's beautiful and against the white backdrop it really reminds me of a Christmas postcard. The Great spotted woodpecker keeps coming to pounder the perch to get food and though we have seen it many times, it's always a pleasure to admire this bird. Unfortunately we can't keep very fast shutter speeds, and any attempts to take photos in flight results in something blurry.

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM f/5.6 1/100sec ISO 1250 +1

             EOS 5D Mark II – Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM f/5.6 1/125sec ISO 1600 +0.67

             EOS 5D Mark II – Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM f/5.6 1/160sec ISO 1250

But suuddenly, here it is! Not a Golden eagle, but a White-tail eagle lands on a tree nearby. We can only see the silhouette against the sky: it's really huge, even from that distance. We hope it can get closer and in better light, but our hopes are invain since the eagle flys away after some time, not to return.

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM  @47mm f/5.0 1/200sec ISO 640

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 200-400 mm f/4L IS USM EXT @526 mm f/8.0 1/125sec ISO 1000

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM  f/5.6 @526mm 1/200sec ISO 1250

             EOS 5D Mark II – Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM f/5.6 1/250sec ISO 2000 +0.33


No more eagles for the rest of the day... We spend the time photographing the other birds. The European jay particularly attracts our attention because it's darker than the specimen we have in Italy, and it's very nice.

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM f/5.6 1/125sec ISO 2000

The sun is setting and our second day is going to be over soon. The clouds leave room to a wonderful sunset and we enjoy it with admiration and of course we do not miss to take some shots.

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM f/4.5 1/160sec ISO 1000 +1.33

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM @58mm f/4.5 1/160sec ISO 1000 +1.33

Once the light is down, we silently retrieve all the equipment and store it back in our backpacks, and then we wait till is dark enough to leave and head back to the truck.

The day didn't go exactly as we expected. Yes we did se an eagle but couldn't take a single shot of it. We all look at tomorrow as another chance, with the hope of a more successful outcome.

And after dinner, we are out again for some night photography. We ask Conny if it's possible to find an interesting spot with some elements that can enrich the scene and he suggests we go up to the mountain where the old watching tower is. We walk up for fifteen minutes in a wonderful wood, completely frozen in sparkling silver dust.
You should know that Conny is rather tall, 1.90 meters, and it's not easy to keep up with him when he walks, even when he "walks slowly".

Once at the top, we take some shots of the horizon, building the scene with the pine trees and keeping in the foreground a cabin where Conny lit some candles and a fire in the stove. The Northern Light is very moderate, less than yesterday, but it still gives us a nice green light in the background.

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM@17mm f/4.0 30sec ISO3200 - tripod

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM@17mm f/6.3 30sec ISO5000 - tripod

             EOS 5D Mark III – Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM@17mm f/6.3 30sec ISO5000 - tripod