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.
