Opening day of 2014 – 2015 Eagle Season

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Kent Jarrett

This year’s early cold snap had driving the American Bald Eagles down the Mississippi River and into Illinois 3 to 4 weeks early this year. However, it has been so gray, overcast, or foggy that nobody has been getting any decent photos. I usually never start traveling to photograph eagles until after Christmas. Cabin fever and boredom was setting in!

Finally yesterday (Friday 12/20/15) a sunny day. I grabbed my gear and headed to my favorite spot to photograph my beloved Eagles. Their was 30 – 40 eagles fishing WAY out by the damn, but nothing happening in near the lock. Took a couple shots of some birds sitting in the parking lot trees.

Classic Banking PoseAction was slow so I was working on my tracking and focus on sea gulls when I caught this one eating a fish mid flight.

Heard a ton of clicking of shutters from photographers around me, turned around to see them firing this female goldfinch behind me. So I thought I better take a couple too.

Put my 2 X teleconverter on my 500mm and tried to squeeze out a couple mid-air fight sequence. These birds are WAY out there!

A lone eagle buzzed a flock of Speckle Bellied Geese resting on the ice. The all got up and took to the air. I caught them flying past the lock’s traffic light.

Heavy crop, but the rare “upside-down” eagle. I still don’t have a full frame talon to talon shot. Maybe this will be the year. Guess that is why I keep going back.Sometimes I wonder how many more eagles photograph I really need, I think it is more of an excuse to get out an just watch and enjoy them!

More eagles trips to come!

Kent

Happy Thanksgiving 2014

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Kent Jarrett

American Wild Turkey. Did you know this could well have been our national bird? But instead millions of them (domesticated) are consumed every year on Thanksgiving!

But instead our founding fathers were small enough to name the American Bald Eagle as our national bird and national animal. What a proud majestic creature!

The migration of Eagles has already started on the Mississippi flyway and is about 3 to 4 weeks ahead of schedule! Let me know if you want to book an hands on / in filed Eagle workshop this winter and we can make that happen!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kent

Lock & Dam 14 Mississippi River Bald Eagle Fishing Sequence

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Kent Jarrett

Last Friday 2/7/14 was a perfect day for me at Lock and Dam 14. I am guessing 80 to 100 photographers were there. I arrived around 10:30 am negative 9 degrees (-9), warmed up to a balmy 14 when I left 6 1/2 hours later. The action was non stop 1297 activations. I have TONS to edit, I even had to back up because I was clipping too many wings with the 500mm. Several of the local guys I know over there switched to 70-200mm. I didn’t take mine that day, so I was forced to stay with the 1DX and my trusty 500mm.

Have I told anybody lately how pleased I am with my Canon 1DX purchase and my 500mm pairing!!!!

A complete fishing series of 8 captured at 14 FPS. This was one of the first time I have witness an adult miss the fish. L&D 14 has taken some heat lately for baiting but I was there both Friday 2/7 and Saturday 2/8 in the snow and I witnessed NO baiting.

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Thanks for stopping by!
Kent

Boy Scouts Of America

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Kent Jarrett

Always feels good to give back! I feel blessed to be able to do so.

I was contacted by a local Boy Scout troop about using a couple of my eagle prints as motivation for their Eagle Scouts. Of course I said yes. The Scout Master wanted quotes from the founder of the Boy Scouts Of America on one, and from a famous scout leader on the other. I was happy to help! They had them printed locally instead of using my printer which made me nervous, but they came out great. I also thought it was a nice touch, that they insisted in leaving my watermark on to give me photo credit and to instill the importance to the boys about giving back. The prints are 24″ X 36″.

Thanks for stopping by!
Kent

Recap of the last 3 days shooting Eagles at Lock and Dam 14 (1/1, 1/2, 1/3)

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Kent Jarrett

Wednesday I was told to get out of the house so Sharon could take down all the Christmas decorations. By the time I got to L&D 14, it was a driving snow storm. There were some eagles working, but the snow really messed with the focus and sharpness of the photos.

Thursday was the best day with a west wind which meant head on fishing!

Friday, the day started out at -9 degrees with 20 – 25MPH winds. Wind chill was -30 at least. It made the water really rough and the eagles struggled to lock onto fish. Since I already got lucky this year with several full frame fishing sequences, I am trying to focus in getting an in air fight series. Saw a few fights, but WAY out. Every time there was 2 or 3 birds close to each other I started tracking, just practicing my framing and back button focusing. Every once in a while my shutter finger would slip and click off a couple.

Here are some fruits of my labor from 1/1, 1/2, and 1/3.

As always C&C is welcomed, and I’ll be headed back on Saturday the 11th for Larry’s Annual cookout.