This Bald Eagle successful catch happened quickly, and I was only able to photograph the eagle as it lifted off the lake with a Crappie in its talons.
I had been watching several Double-crested Cormorants catching shad near the lake dam when I noticed the eagle perched nearby. It was clearly watching the activity. I kept an eye on it, expecting it might make a move.
Watching the Eagle Make Its Move
While I was photographing one of the cormorants, the eagle suddenly left its perch and dropped toward the lake. The dive happened just outside my field of view, and I could not get my camera on it in time to capture the strike. By the time I found the bird again, it was already lifting off the water with a fish in its talons.
Although I cannot say for certain whether this was the same fish the eagle had been watching earlier, the outcome was clear. The hunt was successful.
Bald Eagles rely heavily on their vision when hunting. Their ability to spot fish from a distance and judge timing with precision is what allows moments like this to happen so quickly. I have written more about how their eyesight works and why it gives them such an advantage here:
Bald Eagle Eyesight: How Eagles Spot Prey
Even though I missed the initial strike, I was satisfied with the images I captured. Watching an eagle leave the water with its catch is still a powerful moment, and one that reminds me how fast these encounters unfold in the wild.
Image Information (First Image):
- Date: 12/12/23
- Time: 10:55 AM
- Camera: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
- ISO: 1250
- Aperture: 7.1
- Shutter: 1/3200
- Exp. Comp.: -0.7
- Lens (mm): 500