The first afternoon I was on a ridge about a quarter mile from the lake and I noticed a mature bald eagle flying towards the lake. I watched to see what part of the lake he was headed to with my binoculars. Figured out what I wanted to do the next day and decided the morning would be best cuz we had our first winter storm coming in and I might have a chance in the morning before the rain and snow started.
As you can see from photo #2 this was going to be interesting, cuz for what light there was & the wind I needed to get closer to him from the right side on the photo to get the shot I wanted. There is no cover for probably 200 yards on this side. OK I put the bushhawk over my shoulder using its carrying strap and got my binoculars out. I changed from my hiking boots to my moccasins so I could feel the ground better. I have used this binocular stalking technique many times over the years on many different kinds of wildlife and have been pleasantly surprised at the number of times it works. I do admit many times while learning how to do it I ended up with a stubbed toe and that does not feel real good.
How to = Pick the path you want about 25 yards or less at a time and put the binoculars to your eyes and on the eagle. Only move when he is looking away from you, not when he is looking sideways, only when all you can see is the back of his head. Also pay attention to his shoulders (A different tell tell sign for Deer & Elk which I will explain the next time I try this with one of them). To move forward you have to feel with you feet since you are using your eyes to watch him. About every 25 yards of so look over or under the binoculars to pick your next 25 yard path. This stalk took something over 1 hour but I did get off numerous bursts and got some keepers. Once again the crow call worked well enough to get a lot of different looks.
#3
This is the photo I was trying to get. I use this style photo to show my potential Camera Hunt clients, where we found it and then after we have stalked in closer.
THE VISUAL = And Old Guy with a bazooka hanging off his shoulder, crow call hanging our of his mouth, looking thru binoculars instead of where he is going, feeling the ground with his feet.
Bottom Line = A good thing nobody saw me or I might be in a funny farm instead of at my office.
You have more patience than I my friend. Great tips and techniques You are obviously very good at what you do.
I'm wondering where at on the photo you got the pics from. I would have thought stalking it from the Left side using what the landscape offered as cover would have been a better route and taken half the time. But then again, I don't do this for a living And now we know why
trenchmonkey wrote:
Outstanding lesson, Roger...very well presented Sir! Thanks!!
Amigo Will, thanks for the nice words. You need to think about a eagle hunt this winter. Bring lots of warm clothes. I have an idea on how to heard them but it will take two people and two cameras.
You have more patience than I my friend. Great tips and techniques You are obviously very good at what you do.
I'm wondering where at on the photo you got the pics from. I would have thought stalking it from the Left side using what the landscape offered as cover would have been a better route and taken half the time. But then again, I don't do this for a living And now we know why
Ant
The left side would of been a lot easier but the wind was wrong and the sun just in case it popped thru the clouds would of been wrong. Patience for me is not a problem, I don't have a watch, about all I care about is it is either daytime or night time. I tell my clients and or Forum friends to tell me when it is time for them to eat cuz I don't care about that either when there are photos to be taken. Will or Steve can verify this.
Thanks for the nice comment.
Wacky roger
Founding Member Of OOOPs
Nov 06, 2008 at 06:57 PM
anthony whitmo Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Good lesson. Roger. You musta made a funny sight, walking while looking thru binocs. Almost as funny as Will in his robe. I bet he is sorry he said anything about it.
Never the less, you got your image, and a real keeper.
Tom
On the Photo about where were you standing when you took the pics
Just curious to see how close you got
I ended up on his right probably about 25 to 30 yards from him. About 1/2 way from the little tree and the right end of the photo. I didn't try to get any closer cuz he was starting to fill my lens and I didn't want to try and take off my converter where I was. Sorry I didn't understand you original question.
Nov 06, 2008 at 07:11 PM
anthony whitmo Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
Thanks for the detailed stalking report, Roger. I've used similar techniques when trying to get close to raptors except I don't use binocs. That tip about moving only when you can see they aren't watching you has worked well for me in the past with a variety of birds. Learning when to freeze and and not tip your hand is the hard part. The frustrating thing is when you spend all the time to get close and they decide they want to leave anyway - can't always control them
I have also tried with and with out the binoculars. I think the binoculars work more often that not using them does. Why you can keep their head and shoulders in view all the time you are moving. They many times will drop their shoulder a little when they are going to turn their head that direction. I mean very little not enough that you can see with your eyes or at least not me.
The real frustration with shooting in So. Cal is spending a half hour carefully approaching a subject and then having a jogger come running by and spoiling your shot. The perils of urban shooting. I've learned to laugh it off as the alternative of running them down and strangling the stuffings out of them is not worth the consequenses
Great tips and thankfully I don't have to do this with the BE's I photograph. You have alot more patience then most but the photo's speak for themselves. Well done.
A good thing nobody saw me or I might be in a funny farm instead of at my office. 
you can keep their head and shoulders in view all the time you are moving. They many times will drop their shoulder a little when they are going to turn their head that direction. I mean very little not enough that you can see with your eyes or at least not me.