bird ID - DPChallenge Forums

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

06/15/2004 10:46:55 AM · #1

i took this shot sunday at colchester pond from a very rocky kayak.
i know its a bit blurry but am quite curious what kind of bird this is.
any thoughts appreciated. thanks.

while out on the water this bird was huge. just to put this in perspective a bit. i was fishing from the front seat of the kayak, with the camera around my neck, a beer between my knees, a cigarette in my left hand, a paddle leaning under my arm - battling against a steady 20mph wind.

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

06/15/2004 10:48:11 AM · #2

Looks like a golden eagle to me...

06/15/2004 10:59:18 AM · #3

hmm thats neat - it swooped out of a pine tree about 20yds ahead of us.
i need to get a bird id book.

how sure are you? i wish it was in focus ;{

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

06/15/2004 11:00:21 AM · #4

100% crop of the first shot i got.

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

06/15/2004 11:01:37 AM · #5

no.. i'm not sure... 6' wingspan would indicate an eagle.. most hawks don't get quite that large but it's hard to say... let some other people chime in on this one... mine is just a guess based on seeing a golden eagle up close.

jab119

06/15/2004 11:08:59 AM · #6

could it have been a vulture or buzzard of some type

James

Kha0S

Canon EOS-20D

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX APO IF HSM for Canon

06/15/2004 11:25:33 AM · #7

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Looks like a golden eagle to me...

I agree...

Here's some shots from another website:

/Andrew

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

06/15/2004 12:25:48 PM · #8

you cant see the colors here, but it might help distinguish between a vulture, and a hawk or eagle.

this is the crispest shot i got of it unfortunately

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

06/15/2004 12:44:56 PM · #9

I'm confident that it's not a vulture.

galapagos2k4

Nikon Coolpix 5700

06/15/2004 12:53:41 PM · #10

Greetings...I am gonna have to say that this is probably what we refer to as a First Winter juvenile bald eagle. The diagnostic field marks are mostly the OUTER, rather than inner, white tail feathers and the location of the white feathers on the wings. Here is a web page for reference. A word of warning..don't (or do) present this photo ID question to a birding website unless you want tons of intense evaluations of the bird in your photo, juveline raptors in general and especially between juvenile golden and bald eagles. 'Could be fun though, and you'll most likely get a satisfying answer to your ID question.
//people.delphiforums.com/MCCONAUGHY/birding/alfront/goldeagle.htm
Enjoy!

camelotnorth

Nikon D70

06/15/2004 01:07:21 PM · #11

I agree,an immature bald eagle.

bruski

Canon EOS-50D

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

06/15/2004 01:10:05 PM · #12

I would have to say gold eagle as well. At least that is my first thought. I see them alot around where I live. Both captured(wounded) and wild. But that is what I thought the second I saw the image.

hopper

Canon EOS-80D

Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM

06/15/2004 01:28:48 PM · #13

it's a dragon ... definitely

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/15/2004 01:31:28 PM · #14

i'll have to go back there - but only had the kayak for the weekend, and there is no trail to speak of around this pond/lake... i am looking into a canoe of my own...

most of the birds were on the far side of the pond, where the water was deeper, and there were no people. it was also the only place where i caught any fish ;}

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

06/15/2004 02:55:34 PM · #15

The bird in the photos, IMO, isn't quite clear enough for a positive ID.

Balds should have a yellowish beak while still quite young. The markings, however, can be so similar, they can easily be confused from a distance. I felt galagapos had it right, at first, but am less sure the more I study it. The wing span also points toward a young Golden.

Both are quite common here in BC. I photographed a Bald yesterday and a cousin of the one in the photo the day before. I'll be damned if I can tell 'em apart every time. :-)

joanns

Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro

06/15/2004 04:30:14 PM · #16

Originally posted by G4Ds:

I would have to say gold eagle as well. At least that is my first thought. I see them alot around where I live. Both captured(wounded) and wild. But that is what I thought the second I saw the image.

I agree it is a golden eagle.

ellamay

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

06/15/2004 07:16:24 PM · #17

This is one I took on the weekend, we thought it was a young golden eagle or maybe an osprey?
is it the same bird?
Anyone know for sure what it is?

myfelix

06/15/2004 08:19:23 PM · #18

Ellamay,

What you have is a very special photograph. It isn't often a Golden Eagle is captured endulging in shellfish. Congrats on a great photographic catch! It's a beautiful shot, crisp and clean!

ellamay

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

06/15/2004 08:36:58 PM · #19

thx, well after he got his crab, he took it to a tree only a few feet over a very busy seawall/walk where he threw the shells onto passersby.
It was a great shoot, he and another flew in together and spent some time around got quite a few good shots of it, he actually had a hard time holding on the crab and dropped it 2x before he made it to the tree with it.

myfelix