Archive 2015 · Eagle advice

jsax2481
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Eagle advice

I Just arrived in the Klamath Basin for few days, taking my first shots of the whole mess of eagles around here.
I'd love some advice - do folks rove throughout the day? what locations? Or do you tend to set up in a blind in a comfy chair and wait for something to happen?

If you are familiar with The Klamath area - where do you recommend? Today i cruised township road and into the wildlife refuge auto loop, with eagles absolutely everywhere, although mostly immature.

some other questions that come to mind:
-are you shooting handheld? monopod?
-fill flash? I've got a better beamer on an off camera mount, but I find I'm often too lazy to go the trouble of setting it up, especially if location hopping...
-what aperture do you find gives enough DOF so that the some part of the bird isn't out of focus when shooting with big glass (600 IS II + 1.4ex)?
-How do you find somewhere/predict where an eagle is likely to hunt? Most of the eagles I found were perched and not budging for a couple hours at a time, despite open water with ample waterfowl to snack on nearby

do I just need more patience?

thanks for any and all advice-

Dec 02, 2015 at 09:58 PM

JimLittle
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Eagle advice

I just cruise the auto route and click from the car.....
Township, Lower Klamath Rd can be great for GE's and RT, RL Hawks....

Tule Lake NWR I use the auto route as well, both NWR's offer good opportunities driving the surrounding roads...

Be patient.....

Dec 03, 2015 at 10:28 AM

jsax2481
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Eagle advice

sounds good!
Have you found anywhere where there is reliable hunting/fishing going on? or it's happening everywhere and just needs more patience?
thanks-

Dec 03, 2015 at 12:00 PM

JimLittle
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Eagle advice

Google the NWR office and phone them...they should know more info....

Dec 05, 2015 at 11:01 AM

mogul
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Eagle advice

Look for spots of open water where the duck congregate (if this thaw hasn't opened everything up). Ducks are the major food source. Look for road kill deer, that is the easiest way to get close to scavenging eagles, both Bald and Golden.
edit; look for Military Rd and try for Great Gray Owls or Ft. Klamath refuse dump (near where you are).

Dec 05, 2015 at 11:06 AM

arbitrage
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Eagle advice

I can't answer about the location but I can provide some answers about the other things....

1) I try to shoot handheld as much as possible for flight shots. I sometimes use a monopod but I will lift it up with the lens/camera to do the flight shots and use it as a rest for perched shots or down time. If not handholding the only other option that works for me is tripod with gimbal head. Still I would highly recommend handholding if you can. I use the 600II with TCs on either 7D2 or 1DX and can easily raise and fire for a burst at a time and then rest it by my side.

2)I've never used a better beamer or any flash, I think if the bird is close enough the fill flash would help lighten the dark feathers as you properly expose the white head which is critical for BE photos.

3) I use wide open apertures on the 600 and 600+1.4 for all my BE flight shooting. I find that this works fine with the bird far enough away.

4) Eagles are some of the laziest birds. Even while nesting I only see them bring food twice a day so at this time of year they likely only hunt once a day and they would rather scavenge then fish anyways. Therefore you would have to be very patient to see them catch a fish if you aren't baiting them. I see them perched for 4-5 hrs at a time somedays while I watch the nest.

Dec 05, 2015 at 12:18 PM

jsax2481
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Eagle advice

thanks for the input everyone, lots of good info. Recently tried to 600 +2x teleconverter...great reach but on reviewing shots at the end of the day I quickly realized why no one has shots posted with the 2x....live and learn!
I'll have to check out military road and the refuse dump my next day out, most definitely without the 2x along for the ride.
thanks again!

Dec 05, 2015 at 05:46 PM


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