They had been working on refinements to the nest for weeks each morning; he bringing various sticks and clumps of softer material and clumsily depositing it on what has already become a large nest. She always looked at him and what he brought with a look that questioned if he really knew what he should and shouldn't be bringing. After all, it was the second time they had rebuilt this nest in the past 4 years thanks to winter storms.
He left this afternoon at around 1:00 as he has done each day for the past few weeks to go off and do whatever it is that male eagles due before eggs are laid and the nest requires constant attention. While he was out and about she stayed to tweak a stick here and there or rearrange the grass which he had brought in the morning.
He returned around 3:00 that afternoon, flying high above and surveying the nest site, gliding out over the river and then up over the hill beyond before circling back overhead once again.
Today was different however as he gave chase to two red tails courting in the sky over the field and after apparently feeling that he had driven them a sufficient distance away, he began calling to her. Three times he circled the nest, with each pass coming closer than the previous. Typically silent in his flight, he called constantly and she stood in the nest, watching with gathering interest as she realized his intent.
He landed high to the right of her, preening for a moment in the breeze before looking down at her and uttering a call that I could not hear.
With wings spread wide, she lifted herself to a more open spot just below him and turned her head upward to look at him just for a moment before lifting he tail and lowering her head.
Jim,
Great story and wonderful action. I like the image a lot as presented. The wing behind the branch makes it more real to me (be interesting to see how many say clone it out). I really like the detail in the white feathers--great exposure.
We checked by the way with the aid of some hunting laser rangefinder thing BTW....387' to the base of the tree and they are about 80' up in the air...that puts them at about 91 feet above my head since where I work from is below the ground level the tree plants itself at.
In Florida we have Slash Pines where a lot of eagles nest. It is amazing how the feathers resemble the bark of the pines. Great capture. I am envious!:)
Very nice action and read, but judging it by your own critique standards, it should be a delete because of the "inconvenient" branch in the way, not that it bothers me...
Interaction and sharpness look very good. I don't mind the branch but would try to get more details in the blacks. According to my monitor and histogram, they are partially blocked.
The Cycle Continues.....
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