20121121 - 1 609 Golden Eagle.jpg photo - Hank Vander Velde photos at pbase.com

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21-NOV-2012	Hank v/d Velde

20121121 - 1 609 Golden Eagle.jpg

Two images of what I initially thought to be a juvenile Bald Eagle, but has now been confirmed to be a Golden Eagle by many of you and by Bruce Di Labio, a bird expert here in Ottawa. See also my image posted yesterday at http://www.pbase.com/image/147477244

Many thanks to Bruce, Chris, Bill, Tom, Hal, Jess, Claude, Pierre Coleen and others with the assistance provided in the IDing of this Eagle. This is a "lifer" for me.

Top Image: The Eagle being harassed by a couple of Ravens flew off from where it had perched in a tree right beside our car. It then briefly landed on these rocks before flying off for good.

Flight shot taken from the car, almost into the sun. As a result I had to really crank up the shadows slider to get any detail. (This image was taken with my D800 and 70-200 lens.)

Nikon D300S ,Nikkor 500mm f/4D IF-ED AF-S II
1/640s f/7.1 at 500.0mm iso400 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto

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Dennis Swayze 27-Nov-2012 13:26
Nice work on that first photo Hank...like the location.
Cheers !

Char 24-Nov-2012 00:58
Wonderful captures, Hank! \/

godro 24-Nov-2012 00:50
nice serie...

janescottcumming 24-Nov-2012 00:34
Both awesome shots of this beauty!

Ted Busby 24-Nov-2012 00:12
WOW!...Great addition! Congrats Hank!

Colin Storey 23-Nov-2012 20:48
Two fantastic images Hank.

Guest 23-Nov-2012 20:16
A huge congratulations to you Hank! What a thrill!

jychamberland 23-Nov-2012 20:13
very nice captures Hank!

Jess. ( Lady.D.) 23-Nov-2012 16:28
Could be Hank it is the tail that is the giveaway with an immature Golden it should have a distinct white tail with dark band on the edge, smaller head and smaller dark beak, so these images don't really give a clear indication, if I had to guess I would say a very young Bald Eagle....Great shots though....

Michael Rowan 23-Nov-2012 15:56
Very nice Hank!

bill friedlander 23-Nov-2012 15:40
A couple of lovely shots of this majestic bird! Nice! V

Hennie & Lies Lammers 23-Nov-2012 15:14
Terrific shots Hank

s_barbour 23-Nov-2012 14:29
Terrific shots of this majestic Eagle!

CM Kwan 23-Nov-2012 12:10
Very nice, Hank!

Stephanie 23-Nov-2012 11:38
Love the two images Hank! I'm not an expert; thus I can't distinguish between Gold or Bald Eagles. Whatever, it's a very exciting to see this beautiful bird! :)

Tom LeRoy 23-Nov-2012 09:21
Great 2 shots, Hank. Just beautiful in flight. V

Ton, Ben & Rob Nagtegaal 23-Nov-2012 08:44
Twee mooie foto's van een pracht soort!!

joseantonio 23-Nov-2012 04:50
Beautiful tones in the rock there.V

hge54 23-Nov-2012 04:45
All 3 very nice, Hank. I vote Golden Eagle, as well. Did not know they got that far East.

Tom Munson 23-Nov-2012 03:52
Terrific image, Hank! This sure looks like a Golden to me.

Claude Gagnon 23-Nov-2012 03:29
Two great shots again :))

Really a good question...I would rather think of a Golden Eagle because of these two images rather than the previous one !
The golden feathers on the back of its neck on the first one and then,
in flight, the white feathers rather on the primaries !

Alex Antal 23-Nov-2012 03:03
Superb capture.

Pierre Martin 23-Nov-2012 02:59
necely done
am believing it s a juv bald

Guest 23-Nov-2012 02:14
I thought Golden as soon as looked at the image of it on the rocks. The dark brown head, tawny nape and eye brow, gold hackle on the back of it's head steered me to think GE. Also, it looks like faint white patch on the secondaries and inner primaries; characteristic of a GE in it's first to fifth year. I would expect more white underneath if it were a Bald Eagle and the head doesn't quite seem to fit a BE. I'm no ornithologist but either way this must have been a moment to remember :-)

Jim Coffman 23-Nov-2012 01:55
Two nice images,Hank! They are very regal looking birds!

Coleen Perilloux Landry 23-Nov-2012 01:53
It looks like my juvenile here.

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Dennis Swayze		27-Nov-2012 13:26
Nice work on that first photo Hank...like the location. Cheers !

janescottcumming		24-Nov-2012 00:34
Both awesome shots of this beauty!

Ted Busby		24-Nov-2012 00:12
WOW!...Great addition! Congrats Hank!

Guest		23-Nov-2012 20:16
A huge congratulations to you Hank! What a thrill!

Jess. ( Lady.D.)		23-Nov-2012 16:28
Could be Hank it is the tail that is the giveaway with an immature Golden it should have a distinct white tail with dark band on the edge, smaller head and smaller dark beak, so these images don't really give a clear indication, if I had to guess I would say a very young Bald Eagle....Great shots though....

bill friedlander		23-Nov-2012 15:40
A couple of lovely shots of this majestic bird! Nice! V

s_barbour		23-Nov-2012 14:29
Terrific shots of this majestic Eagle!

Stephanie		23-Nov-2012 11:38
Love the two images Hank! I'm not an expert; thus I can't distinguish between Gold or Bald Eagles. Whatever, it's a very exciting to see this beautiful bird! :)

Tom LeRoy		23-Nov-2012 09:21
Great 2 shots, Hank. Just beautiful in flight. V

Ton, Ben & Rob Nagtegaal		23-Nov-2012 08:44
Twee mooie foto's van een pracht soort!!

joseantonio		23-Nov-2012 04:50
Beautiful tones in the rock there.V

hge54		23-Nov-2012 04:45
All 3 very nice, Hank. I vote Golden Eagle, as well. Did not know they got that far East.

Tom Munson		23-Nov-2012 03:52
Terrific image, Hank! This sure looks like a Golden to me.

Claude Gagnon		23-Nov-2012 03:29
Two great shots again :)) Really a good question...I would rather think of a Golden Eagle because of these two images rather than the previous one ! The golden feathers on the back of its neck on the first one and then, in flight, the white feathers rather on the primaries !

Pierre Martin		23-Nov-2012 02:59
necely done am believing it s a juv bald

Guest		23-Nov-2012 02:14
I thought Golden as soon as looked at the image of it on the rocks. The dark brown head, tawny nape and eye brow, gold hackle on the back of it's head steered me to think GE. Also, it looks like faint white patch on the secondaries and inner primaries; characteristic of a GE in it's first to fifth year. I would expect more white underneath if it were a Bald Eagle and the head doesn't quite seem to fit a BE. I'm no ornithologist but either way this must have been a moment to remember :-)

Jim Coffman		23-Nov-2012 01:55
Two nice images,Hank! They are very regal looking birds!

Coleen Perilloux Landry		23-Nov-2012 01:53
It looks like my juvenile here.