Close-ups Of An Eagle Fly-By

Yesterday I had a fantastic, all-day photography adventure with two destinations, one of which was a late afternoon, three-hour visit to Blackwater NWR. (More on the other destination, Poplar Island, soon!)

At Blackwater, I had a thrill with this gorgeous Bald Eagle fly-by. I had already sighted it perched in the distance and was taking a shot of a Great Blue Heron when I heard another Eagle call out. I turned and saw this Eagle taking flight and head towards me.

I took a series of 28 photos; here’s a mini-feel of this majestic bird passing you by at close-range.

“Bald Eagle Fly-By I”

“Bald Eagle Fly-By II”

“Bald Eagle Fly-By III”

I kept shooting as it headed to the refuge’s Osprey webcam platform and landed…..for the world to now see up close.

Bald Eagle landing

Bald Eagle coming in for a landing on Blackwater NWR’s Osprey webcam platform
(a favorite fall/winter Eagle perch during the fall/winter months)

If you’re interested, click HERE to see this live-streaming Osprey webcam. There just could be an Eagle, hawk, heron, or one of numerous small birds perched! 🙂

Tags: Bald, Blackwater, Cambridge, camera, Chesapeake Bay, close-up, eagle, Eastern Shore, flight, fly-by, flying, landing, Maryland, NWR, platform, refuge, webcam, wildlife, wings, wingspan

36 thoughts on “Close-ups Of An Eagle Fly-By”

John on 09/21/2019 at 12:44 PM said:

Wow Donna, such beautiful photos of a beautiful bird!! Love!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/22/2019 at 8:02 AM said:
  
  Thank you, John!
  
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Kelly MacKay on 09/21/2019 at 1:02 PM said:

Beautiful encounter Donna. I love when I have my camera and I get a moment to capture something special.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/22/2019 at 8:04 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Kelly! We love those moments!!
  
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Carol Fordonski on 09/21/2019 at 1:58 PM said:

Bald Eagle series I the curve of the left wing, the spread eagle right wing, the lighting…Oh My… and then there were II and III…they are overwhelmingly, stunningly, beautiful! Thanks for sharing, Donna

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/22/2019 at 8:05 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Carol, I am so glad you enjoyed them!
  
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David on 09/21/2019 at 2:21 PM said:

The first two shots of the eagle are really great but I love the second with the wings down, my favorite bif “pose”.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/22/2019 at 8:08 AM said:
  
  Thank you, David, my fave, too!
  
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Susan Hale on 09/21/2019 at 2:33 PM said:

Beautiful shots, and what a thrill that must have been. I was driving home down rt 8 last week and a bald eagle was sitting eating a dead raccoon by the side of the road. I went home and got my camera and went back. He was still there and by then had been joined by a few black vultures. My shots are really, really close-up, but an eagle eating a dead raccoon isn’t nearly as pretty as an eagle in flight! 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/22/2019 at 8:10 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Susan, it was that RPRT moment. Not as pretty BUT it’s still a great action/behavior shot to see an Eagle ‘dining’. I’ve got quite a few of those kinds of shots myself over the years. 🙂
  
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blhphotoblog on 09/21/2019 at 3:20 PM said:

Now that’s a treat! Love the first image.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/22/2019 at 8:13 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Brian!
  
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H.J. for avian101 on 09/21/2019 at 6:15 PM said:

What a gorgeous bird! Fantastic shots! What a great opportunity. Thank you. my friend. 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/22/2019 at 8:18 AM said:
  
  Thank you, HJ, I had one of those RPRT moments for sure! 🙂
  
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T Ibara Photo on 09/21/2019 at 7:38 PM said:

It must have been thrilling to see this bird, and get some wonderful shots too!!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/22/2019 at 8:21 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Takami, it was! As (s)he landed on the platform and called out, the mate was in the air chasing away another Eagle. I saw six Eagles at once at that time. Thrilling for sure!
  
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  - T Ibara Photo on 09/22/2019 at 11:15 AM said:
    
    6 eagles!! That truly must have been exciting. Although there is some “empty nest syndrome” after the departure of the Osprey family, I am very happy you can continue to enjoy Birdwatching 🙂 🦅
Eliza Waters on 09/21/2019 at 8:10 PM said:

Excellent captures, Donna, what a treat!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/22/2019 at 8:22 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Eliza!
  
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aussiebirder on 09/21/2019 at 10:01 PM said:

A wonderful photo opportunity Donna! It appears that the Osprey pad has become like a bird stage for you, God brings the birds to you because you so appreciate his beautiful creations.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/22/2019 at 8:29 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Ashley! I am very thankful to God for providing me so many beautiful bird and wildlife ops, and oh so do appreciate His beautiful creations! 🙂
  
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tanjabrittonwriter on 09/21/2019 at 10:49 PM said:

You must have been so elated to capture that sequence, Donna. The feather details are wonderful to see.
Happy Sunday,
Tanja

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/22/2019 at 8:31 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Tanja, it was a wonderful RPRT moment! Happy Sunday to you too! 🙂
  
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Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog on 09/22/2019 at 3:20 AM said:

Awesome! 🙂 I saw, in a YouTube video by Eons, about how Pterydactyls, due to the competition from birds, all became rather large, with none being smaller than a very large eagle. Their large size contributed to their extinction.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/22/2019 at 8:32 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Tom! Interesting! I’ll search that for that video to watch it, thank you for sharing!
  
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Indira on 09/22/2019 at 5:39 AM said:

Awesome, as usual, Donna! Beautiful fly-past shots!! 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/22/2019 at 8:33 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Indira!! 🙂
  
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David & Laura Speer on 09/22/2019 at 9:41 PM said:

Ha, we just saw and photographed an eagle – but it looked nothing as great as yours. Loving it! Especially the landing shot.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/23/2019 at 8:30 AM said:
  
  Thank you! I got lucky on how close he flew by me! 🙂
  
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  - David & Laura Speer on 09/23/2019 at 10:14 AM said:
    
    Yeah, but the photos are awesome and that is skill ..nice work
  - bayphotosbydonna on 09/23/2019 at 9:34 PM said:
    
    Thank you!
belindagroverphotography on 09/24/2019 at 8:50 AM said:

I love those coming in for a landing photos😊

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/24/2019 at 9:35 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Belinda! 🙂
  
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Tofino Photography on 09/25/2019 at 12:17 AM said:

I clicked onto that link Donna. No raptors but lots of chirping,croaking ……and its night time too! I like this set up! If I could I’d like to install a few of these here in Tofino! I’ve even thought of a name “Tofino Eagle Cams” TEC
Your the only other person other than myself that studies them daily.Great work Donna!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 09/25/2019 at 7:45 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Wayne! Webcams are pretty cool, I’ll load one (of many I watch) down in the corner of my laptop while working. The refuge had a problem with their other webcam on the Eagles last year, I hope they’re able to have it up and running this winter. 🙂
  
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  - Tofino Photography on 09/25/2019 at 12:02 PM said:
    
    it was fun listening to all the insects chatting!