On November 19, I arrived at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma a few minutes before sunrise. I ate breakfast and had a cup of coffee before starting out on the auto tour road at sunrise. There was some patchy fog, but it still looked like it was going to be a nice day to be at the refuge.
White-tailed Buck Sighting
When I began my drive, I spotted a large White-tailed Buck on the east side of the road moving into the brush. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a clear shot, but it was still a great sight to start the morning.
Encounter with Bald Eagles
After seeing the buck, I continued on my way and spotted a pair of Bald Eagles near the road. The two Bald Eagles were perched on dead branches high in a tree.
At first, it seemed like the eagles were watching the sunrise, but they were actually reacting to something else. Gunshots from waterfowl hunters echoed across the Arkansas River, drawing their attention. The eagles shifted into an alert posture, which made for an interesting scene.
Image Details
- Date: November 19, 2024
- Time: 8:13 AM
- Camera: Canon R5 Mark 2
- Lens: Canon RF 200-800mm
- Focal Length: 800mm
- ISO: 1600
- Aperture: f/9
- Shutter Speed: 1/1000
- Exposure Compensation: +0.7
Observations on Bald Eagles
Bald Eagles are commonly found at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge. They thrive near rivers and lakes with abundant fish and waterfowl. Their presence is a strong indicator of a healthy ecosystem.
The combination of the morning light, the eagles’ alert posture, and the natural setting made this moment worth capturing. It set a positive tone for the rest of the day at the refuge.
That is a lovely posting today. Thank you. Sure love the Bald Eagles. There are a lot of them in my area, however I do not get out much to see them.