Thursday, January 14, 2010

Best Photo of 2009 - The Eagle

While my choice for today's CDP theme of Best Photo of 2009 is not a great image in a technical sense, it certainly represents a most memorable few minutes for me.

As I reported in my post last year:
"...bald eagle I encountered this afternoon on a beach walk. He had landed atop a large rock surrounded by the surf. He wasn't pleased when an otter suddenly surfaced and climbed up onto the rock with a fish in its mouth. Immediately the raptor pounced, but to no avail. The otter escaped with his fish and I caught this somewhat blurred shot of our beautiful national bird having a bad day."

To elaborate a little more on the encounter, I first noticed the eagle as he swooped down from a high bluff above the beach and glided just above the surf and off into the distance before turning around. He then sailed over me and landed on a rock in the water about thirty yards away. I fumbled for my point and shoot digital camera and got off this shot just as he went for the otter. He missed the mark and flew out to sea, but returned again for another perch on the rock. He quickly gave up pursuit of the otter and its fish and vanished. I managed to catch several more shots of him during his circling, but none so striking as his attack on the otter with talons at the ready.

View other Best Photos of 2009 today from CDP bloggers around the world.Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Also view beautiful and interesting skies today at Sky Watch Friday.

22 comments:

Sylvia K said...

Fantastic, Raf! Not just photo, but the experience! Wow! How terrific is that? Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us! Hope you have a great weekend!

Sylvia

Megan, Life Revamped said...

what great movement in that!

...and to see an eagle in motion, is beautiful in itself!
thanks for sharing!

have a great weekend!
Come watch the sky with me!
Happy Weekend ahead!

xoxo
~fickle

Olivier said...

Waouhh c'est un superbe choix, cet aigle est magnifique

Anonymous said...

I wish not acquiesce in on it. I think polite post. Particularly the title attracted me to review the intact story.

Jilly said...

I'd think I'd died and gone to heaven if I got a shot like this! Fabulous!

Jim said...

Good capture.
Sydney - City and Suburbs

Laurent said...

Incredible shot.

DIGITAL WORLD PAGES ARCHIVE said...

Fantastic shot..,,,

Leif Hagen said...

Your timing was perfect! Unless you see Bald Eagles all the time around there, I'd guess you may never get to take such a photo again?! Perfect for theme day!

Gerald (SK14) said...

O my that is super - the opportunity and the realisation - you rarely get more than one chance to get a photo like this.

Lisa Wilson said...

Amazing! Perfect choice!

Hilda said...

Oh yes, I remember this. Found it awesome then and still do! Great choice, Raf!

Judy said...

Yes, this is just awesome!

Janet said...

Fantastic! You were fortunate to be in the right place at the right time and have your camera!

Chuck Pefley said...

Yes, I agree. Sliding into home plate, isn't he? Fantastic capture with great timing on your part, Raf. Very nice!!

Louis la Vache said...

Indeed! Excellent choice! What a fine capture of the motion!

Three Rivers, Michigan said...

What a great action shot! I would have been thrilled just to have seen it, but you came home with a photo!

joo said...

Perfect choice!

amatamari© said...

WOW!!! Wonderful shot!

firstofmany said...

I can feel the wind! I love that I can almost see feathers fluttering.

Is this out at Fort Worden? There was a bald eagle by the firehouse and we had the experience of watching it get chased of by a murder of crows. Alas, no pictures to tell the story.

Thanks for posting! I enjoy your pictures.

PJ said...

It's a great photo and a great story, no need to apologize. Thanks for sharing it.

Kilauea Poetry said...

What a terrific photo capture and story! Delightful!