Category Archives: Bald Eagles

Aging of Eagles 2

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Aging of Eagles Part 2:

I had several people ask how to tell how old the Juvenile Eagles are. Here are some reference photos of all 5 stages of them maturing. The age is under each photo in the description. I haven’t seen many mud heads (3.5) year old Eagles this year.
 
.5 year old (Black Beak)
 
 
1.5 year old (Black and Yellow Beak)
 
 
2.5 year old (Yellow Beak)
 
 
3.5 year old (Mud Head)
 
 
4.5 year old (head not pure white, some white still under the wings)
 
 
5 year old + (Mature Adult)
 
Reference Photo – Not mine.
 

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Life is good and I am blessed!
Kent

Eagles at Tailwaters West

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Thursday January 22nd, 2026. I was bored so I went Eagling over in Iowa yesterday.

L&D14: zero eagles after reports of 25+ yesterday.
L&D15: 6-8 eagles mostly juveniles active 3/4’s of the way across lots of Pelicans. A few fly overs.
Credit Island: city crew out cutting up downed trees. Zero eagles
Concord street: some open water South of the Blue 280 bridge. 3 Eagles sitting on the ice. So far zero activity.
So I drove another hour to Iowa City, Power Plant roller dam, 20 eagles active and some fishing. Parking there is an issue. I walked the railroad tracks down to the foot path and then walk back to north to the roller dam. Long lens needed. Eagles turned off at 2:45 pm.
I then headed to the Tailwater’s West for the golden hour: 12 eagles in the cottonwood tree by the boat ramp. The pool is mostly iced over. 6 – 8 active eagles sitting in the trees by the chute. Flow rate from the dam was way down, but when a fish did show up, there was action, fishing and chasing. 3:30 – 4:45pm. It is a special place and could be as good as L&D 14 was back in the days before the trees died. too bad it is 3 hours from home. Seems to be best the first hour, and the last hour of the day.
 
The next 7 – 10 days should keep getting better, as more rivers ice up and snow should cover the ground.
 
Camera Settings
Canon R5.2
Canon RF600
Handheld
1/2500
F4
ISO 800 – 3200 (AUTO)
 
Full fishing sequence.
 

Fly by with fish.

quartering away.

Juvenile is golden hour light.

Lots of American White Pelicans at Lock & Dam 14 and Lock & Dam 15.  The males are just starting to get their breeding hump on their bills.

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Life is good and I am blessed!
Kent

Mississippi River Eagles

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It has been 9 winters since I have photographed American Bald Eagles on the mighty Mississippi River below Lock and Dam 14, just north of the Quad Cities.  This is one of my happy winter places as this is where the entire wildlife photography journey started back in 2010.  The light was all over the place today from heavy clouds, snow, and partial sunshine.  Wind was perfect for most of the afternoon, strong from the South.  At L&D 14 you want a North or South wind, otherwise you end up with nothing but butt shots.   I think I might go back Friday, but we really need more snow on the ground and more ice on the river. 

Trumpeter Swan

2.5 year of Juvenile

American White Pelican

Not all fishing passes are successful.  I like it when they missed, as it brings several other eagles into the action.  This is 1 pound gizzard shad.

Who want to go photograph eagles soon?

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look!
Life is good and I am blessed!
Kent 

2015-2016 Eagle Trip

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Since moving to Texas I didn’t expect to be able to photograph my beloved Eagles during the winter of the 2015 / 2016 season.  Worked wanted me to travel back to central Illinois, so I went the weekend before to squeeze three days in the field chasing owls and Eagles.

Friday 2/12/16 Day 1 Owls and Eagles

Saturday 2/13/16 Great Horned & Barred Owls

Sunday 2/14/16 was a snow out, guess that is what I deserved for leaving Miss Sharon home only on Valentines Day.  I was scheduled to go after Snowy owls in the morning and Eagles in the afternoon.

Best of the Eagles from Friday and Saturday afternoon sessions. Lot if changing light conditions.  Overall I’m happy with this batch.

PBKJ5088-FrameShop

This juvenile was very active both days and had two longer flight feathers so I could always recognize this one.PBKJ4591-FrameShopPBKJ5170-FrameShop

Canon 5DMK3 + 100-400 MK2 and  they still get so close.  This was shot at 100mm.KJ5D3191-FrameShopKJ5D3188-FrameShopKJ5D3218-FrameShop KJ5D3223-FrameShop

One of my new favorites from this trip.PBKJ4688-FrameShop PBKJ4704-FrameShopPBKJ5672-FrameShop PBKJ5704-FrameShop PBKJ5705-FrameShop PBKJ5720-FrameShop PBKJ5739-FrameShop PBKJ5741-FrameShop PBKJ5746-FrameShop PBKJ5748-FrameShop

I still don’t have a Talon to Talon upside down shot 🙁  A third eagle ended up with this fish as it was dropped.PBKJ5826-FrameShop PBKJ5943-FrameShopTheir Talons are so sharp, this guy ended up cutting the head off this fish.  The body ended up falling back into the water and the eagle ended up with only the head.PBKJ5958-FrameShopEnjoy the photos and what you read? Subscribe to be notified of future posts via email by either clicking the Follow button at the bottom or the Subscribe section on the right.

Life is good and I am blessed!

Kent

2016 Owl and Eagle Trip Day 1

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The starting temperature was 14, but the wind was howling at 20 MPH plus.  Robert did a great job of showing me all his owl hot spots but with the winds our calls didn’t carry and they were not going to fly.  We called 3 sets of Barred Owls, and had one high fly over late in the morning but no photos were taken.

I did setup on these cardinals and actually called them in.  First this little guy came in and I have no clue what he is.  I think he might be a Downy Woodpecker or a Hairy Woodpecker.  Remember folks I am a photographer not a birder.PBKJ4512-FrameShop I can’t remember who but somebody asked if I had any cardinals, so I called this guy in for his closeup!PBKJ4523-FrameShop The wind was SO strong it messed with the eagles ability to fish.  This one fished with the wind instead of against the wind like normal.

Left to Right EaglePBKJ4812 Classic Right to Left Talon posePBKJ4836 I feel the straight on shots are the hardest to keep in focus.  Straight On!PBKJ5172Day 2 was brown owls in the morning and eagles in the afternoon.  Three to Six inches of snow coming in tomorrow so might have to cut this outing a day early, but going to try to find some Snowy Owls in the morning. Might use Sunday evening for more editing.

Enjoy the photos and what you read? Subscribe to be notified of future posts via email by either clicking the Follow button at the bottom or the Subscribe section on the right.

Life is good and I am blessed!

Kent