Some mornings at Charleston City Lake feel like they were built for raptors. This one gave me a mature Bald Eagle flying low, right when the sunrise light turned warm.
I only had a short window, but the scene came together fast. Clean sky, good angle, and a bird that looked completely in control.
Wildlife Notes
This was a mature Bald Eagle, and it showed in the classic adult look, bright head and tail against a dark body.
The flight was the best part. The eagle stayed low over the lake and moved with that smooth, effortless glide that makes you stop what you’re doing and just watch. When an adult bird spreads those wings, you understand why people guess a wingspan close to seven feet.
Charleston City Lake is the kind of place where eagles can show up when the conditions are right. Open water and early light can turn a normal morning into a quick photo opportunity if you’re ready.
Photography Notes
For bird-in-flight shots like this, I’m always paying attention to two things first, background and light. The warm sunrise glow hit the bird at the right angle, and the blue sky stayed clean enough that the eagle didn’t get lost in the frame.
This image was made with the gear I was using at the time:
Gear used
- Camera: Canon EOS R7
- Lens: Canon RF 800mm F11 IS STM
Settings
- Location: Charleston City Lake, Arkansas
- Date/Time: January 23, 2023 (9:38 AM)
- Mode: Manual
- Aperture: f/11
- Shutter Speed: 1/2500
- ISO: 1250 (Auto)
- Focal length: 800mm (Fixed)
That shutter speed did exactly what I needed. It froze the wings and kept the image crisp. If I had to sum it up, this shot was about being ready and letting the light do some of the heavy lifting.
Closing
I never get tired of photographing Bald Eagles, especially when they fly like this. One clean pass over the lake can make the whole morning.
If you’ve got a lake near you, get there early and watch the sky when the sun first starts to warm the horizon. That’s when the good stuff tends to happen.