Wild Bald Eagles - Hunting and Feeding in Natural Environment

For years I have been going down to Spanish Banks during low tide, just because it's a nice walk; kind of calm and soothing in the middle of the city. One day I was strolling along, enjoying the view, the ocean spray, the sun, when a bald eagle flew RIGHT by me.

It was such a moving experience, I decided to start bringing my camera down. Always good to share something so special with everyone, right? Especially when I'm not out in some remote bush, camping or otherwise roughing it, patiently stalking my subject. I just walk down the hill from my house, take my shoes off and wander around the lovely rippled sand.

Sometimes I don't see any eagles at all . . . on those days, as I say to people, I'm 'really suffering' by spending a few hours at the beach with my camera! When there are no eagles I often turn my camera on the Great Blue Heron. It's a completely different kind of subject to photo; different style of fishing, movement and flying. Also, as prey rather than predator, somewhat more skittish and likely to fly off before I can get really close. One time a baby seal crawled up on the sand bar to take an afternoon nap! I will share those various photos as well, as my story unfolds.

For now I will start at the beginning, essentially moving in chronological order. As early as March the tide starts going out, but only a short way, and only for a little while. I wear gum boots and warm clothes, but still find it quite chilly. It's a good time to get out there, when I can, when the weather is clear enough, because the eagles get all excited about the amount of fishing. By May the tide is almost all the way out to the sandbar, and lasts for a couple of hours. The light is usually much better too.

These first shots were in early June of 2005 . . . it was only my second or third time of actually photographing the eagles. I got so many good, close up shots that I took it as a challenge. Although difficult, I have been able to get other quality shots in the three years since.

It seems like there are more eagles when the weather is not great, but maybe that's just because there are less people around. It rained in the morning then cleared up; the camera prefers sunny breaks to overcast with drizzle. Low tide wasn't until afternoon, but I got out there early regardless, which turned out to be a good thing.

When I saw how much action there was I got so excited I almost lost my breath. When the tide is at it's lowest, it takes almost an hour to walk out to the water line if you are being distracted by eagles flying overhead, or if you are walking knee-deep in ocean.

The currents make almost a 'corner' where the waves washing in from open water (out by Wreck Beach, around the point of UBC) meet the waves coming in from English Bay (across from the North Shore). There was a total feeding frenzy going on there. It's very odd to be standing out there on dry land, on this sand bar that's usually under two meters of water, especially when a freighter goes by.

In total there were five eagles on this day; two of them were most certainly mates, as they seemed to be taking turns fishing. The others were just flying around, walking (yes, walking) on the sand, landing majestically near me, and otherwise being totally natural.

Next time: an eagle let me get so close I was able to change from telephoto to regular lens before it decided to drift away from me!