Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Bald eagle, Yellowstone National Park

Bald eagle in Yellowstone - Pat Ulrich Wildlife Photography

For as bird-centric as my photography often is, I photographed very few avian subjects during my trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. I had hoped to find more birds, but the large terrestrial megafauna were just too amazing to look away from. I did however, snap a few shots of a Clark's nutcracker (a fascinating bird with a really awesome memory!) as well as this bald eagle perched in a tree in Hayden Valley. I had really hoped to see some trumpeter swans, but that just wasn't in the cards this time. There's always next time though!

Bald eagle watching

As for this eagle, it was perched in the top of a tree and was watching the water below. It had drawn a pretty good crowd, but since it was on the opposite side of the river, it seemed not to care too much about all the people watching it. What it did care about though, is the red-tailed hawk that must have had a nest close by. In the top photo in the post, the eagle is calling out at the hawk just before the hawk flew straight at it and scared it away. It was quite a sight to see a smaller bird come swooping in at high speed, and the bald eagle wanted no part of it.

View more photos of raptors in my Birds of Prey gallery.

Submitted to World Bird Wednesday -- Follow the link to check out this week's posts.

14 comments:

  1. I've yet photographed a Bald Eagle. On this last road trip I got a Golden Eagle and that was exciting. I may try to put it on World Bird Wednesday if I can fix up the pictures some. Great birds they all are.

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  2. Beautiful shot Pat of a spectacular bird. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  3. Perfect shot of an Eagle! He looks masterful surveying the countryside (looking for prey) from on top of that evergreen. Always next time is my mantra when we miss something on our travels!

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  4. A wonderful bird.. I would love to get the opportunity to see one in the wild one day...

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  5. Great photo of the eagle sitting on the tree top. It must have been very interesting to see a smaller hawk scare it off.

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  6. Always a great sighting!

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  7. Beautiful eagle shots! They are awesome birds to see!

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  8. I have been enjoying your "large terrestrial megafauna" very much but I must confess to missing your shore birds especially. That's what your awesome galleries are for! Love the eagle and the tree!
    Cheers Pat!

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  9. Beautiful shots! He looks very regal sitting at the top of the tree.

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  10. Great photos! How amazing to get to see this beautiful bird in real.

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  11. Wonderful photos of this gorgeous bird, Pat!

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  12. Hi there - what a splendid bird - yet to get any good pictures of Wedge-Tailed Eagles here in Australia - will keep trying!

    Cheers - Stewart M.

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  13. It must have been awesome to watch the RT Hawk chase the Eagle off. Great shots!

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