Photographing Bald Eagles Over Charleston Lake

On Sunday and Tuesday, I photographed Bald Eagles over Charleston Lake in Arkansas.

On Sunday, I arrived early to take advantage of the morning light. Several Bald Eagles flew north on the west side of the lake, but they were too far for any decent shots. Finally, at around 9:00 A.M., one eagle flew close enough for me to get some photographs.

Bald Eagle Hunting the Horizon
With wings arched and a determined posture, a Bald Eagle surveys Charleston Lake for its next meal.
Grace in the Air
A Bald Eagle soars against the clear blue sky, showcasing the strength and elegance of its wings in full extension.

On Tuesday, I got to the lake just before sunrise. As the first light appeared, I focused on a Great Blue Heron feeding near the earthen dam. Later that morning, I noticed the heron alerting to something. It turned out to be a Bald Eagle flying nearby. This gave me enough time to prepare and photograph the eagle as it flew over the lake.

A Bald Eagle Soars High Over Charleston Lake
A Bald Eagle soars high over Charleston Lake, its wings fully extended in a display of power and independence.

The camera settings for the third eagle photo were as follows:

  • Date: 12/3/24
  • Time: 9:14:30 AM
  • Camera Model: Canon EOS R5 Mark 2
  • Lens: Canon RF 200-800mm
  • Focal length: 800mm
  • ISO: 1600
  • Aperture: f/10
  • Shutter speed: 1/3200
  • Exposure compensation: 0.0

Charleston Lake proved to be an excellent location for observing and photographing Bald Eagles.

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