Okay, so these shots are lousy.... leastwise, for the FM forum. Might look okay on my little iPod screen The first two are 100% crops, and the 3rd, was from underneath, hence, the poor lighting.....
However, I'm just SOOO stoked to have a Golden Eagle (I'm thinking, a 3 year juvenile) living basically in my back yard !
This is a bird that I believe, is worth concentrating my efforts on..... Like sitting in a blind for hours.... visiting the area a TON (glad it's so close) and just basically doing whatever I have to, to get a a ringer.....
.....and then, having an aluminum print done, with my name in the bottom right corner
Oh, and this thing is absolutely GIANT ! I've read that they have a max wing span of 7.5 to 8 feet ! I'd be surprised if this one wasn't 80 inches ! It's wing flaps look so slow, yet it's remarkably agile, and it takes very little $%#& from Ravens and such. I saw one Raven today, make one attempt at it, but it quickly got turned on, decided their were less risky things it could be doing, and vacated quickly.
Ben, Ben ! It's a Gold freaking Eagle
I don't mind critique.... but I usually post my technically good shots for that.
Seriously though, several thoughts come to mind, about your ISO question...
I've been finding lately, that a lot more of my BIF shots come out sharp enough to be usable, when I'm shooting at ISO 400, even in bright sunlight..... as when they drop down to where I'm getting something besides sky in the BG, my shutter speed typically falls to 1/2000th or below, as it is...... and yes, I know a lot of guys get sharp shots of larger, slower birds at 1/600th, or even slower. Not me I think I must be the worlds shakiest 45 year old.
Also, the sky in these shots is pretty decieving.... it might look all bright and sunny (especially after a little PS), but in reality, it was mostly cloudy / hazy behind me (where my light was coming from).
I could have done more PS to these... but why ? No amount of PS is going to make these 100% crops, and / or the back lit shot look great.
I posted these because this is a very cool bird... nothing to do with the photos themselves.
Peace,
Fish
PS, BTW Ben.... You were curious about the noise in the second shot ? You should have seen all the noise in the 3rd, before I sampled that color, and completely replaced the sky !
And hey, like I was telling Ben, I'm going to be totally open to CC on my future / better shots of this bird.... because I HAVE to get a ringer or two of this guy, no matter what !
I'm looking at my wall right now, and any 1 or 2 of these prints can come down, to make room for a 20 x 30 aluminum print of the Goldy
I hear you about them seeing people from a mile away ! The one time I saw this one on the ground, it looked at me and flew off, when I was still probably 150+ yards away ! But my brain has been working overtime, about where I can hide myself
I'll sure try for more, and much better
BTW, that owl in your avatar is freaking awesome ! What species ?
Fish, I completely understand your excitement! I got that way yesterday and i was only shooting a little blue heron. He was the cutest little blue heron ever!!
Anyway, I remember when Chad and I were in Wyoming and we spotted the golden perched up on a cliff. I think Chad would have camped out that night just to get a few more images of the magnificent beauty.
Congrats Chris for finding this soaring beauty in your backyard! You are going to have some fun with this subject, stay on it and make some + exposure adjustments to compensate for all that sky BG.
The first two are 100% crops, and the 3rd, was from underneath, hence, the poor lighting.....
I think I must be the worlds shakiest 45 year old. 
