Seabeck Eagles
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Come to think of it, you're probably where I heard about the place. You've got some nice shots there.
I'm tempted to tell folks "High Tide" to try and keep the crowds away, but you're correct.
Actually show up at least two hours BEFORE low tide. Three hours if you're dedicated. They do their best fishing as the tide goes out.
That is true. By the time the tide is at it lowest, the eagles have eaten their fill of fish and are napping.
I am really amazed with the Tamron. I was a tried and true Nikon guy. Many years ago, in my films days, I bought a 3 party lens. It ended up being soft, and I vowed I'd never make that mistake again. So I stuck with Nikon glass for all of my lense. That is until I decided to "Go Big". Well, to get a 600 mm in Nikon flavor, you have to go big all right. $13,000 worth of big, and it's not a zoom lens. That wasn't in my budget, so when a friend showed me the 150-600 I was intrigued. I did a bit of research and I was impressed. Is it as good as the Nikkor 600 mm prime? Well, I wouldn't know but the reviews say it's not. I think that's only fair, considering how you can buy a 12 pack of them for the same price! But it's a dang good lens, and I'm happy with it.
it's a great lens for the money, no question!!
how far away were you for this shot? really clear! i was over there last week at low tide, and the eagles - the few that were still around - were WAAAAAY out there...
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Terry and I went there two years ago. Check the tide charts. The best time to go is during a very low tide. That is when the eagles gather to catch fish trapped in the exposed oyster beds.
http://www.pnwphotos.com/forum/showthread.php?8552-Seabeck-Washington-Bald-Eagles
http://www.pnwphotos.com/forum/showthread.php?8609-More-Seabeck-Bald-Eagles
http://www.pnwphotos.com/forum/showthread.php?8552-Seabeck-Washington-Bald-Eagles
http://www.pnwphotos.com/forum/showthread.php?8609-More-Seabeck-Bald-Eagles
Come to think of it, you're probably where I heard about the place. You've got some nice shots there.
I'm tempted to tell folks "High Tide" to try and keep the crowds away, but you're correct.
Actually show up at least two hours BEFORE low tide. Three hours if you're dedicated. They do their best fishing as the tide goes out.
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That is true. By the time the tide is at it lowest, the eagles have eaten their fill of fish and are napping.
"The Shot"
I've wanted the cliche shot of an eagle grabbing a fish for quite a while. This year at Seabeck, I got a couple of them, but they were really too far away to be of much use.
Finally, as the season is winding down, and I may not get the chance to visit again this year, I got a nice close version of it.
I've wanted the cliche shot of an eagle grabbing a fish for quite a while. This year at Seabeck, I got a couple of them, but they were really too far away to be of much use.
Finally, as the season is winding down, and I may not get the chance to visit again this year, I got a nice close version of it.
, but its sure fun getting the shots!
photographmemories
New Member
Man! Nice series. The shots you guys are getting with your Tamrons are off the hook!
Chad
Chad
A photographer caught a crow hitching a ride on the back of an eagle at Seabeck:
http://www.grindtv.com/wildlife/rar...atop-a-flying-bald-eagle/#IHgwLYt4r0dWuJfU.97
http://www.grindtv.com/wildlife/rar...atop-a-flying-bald-eagle/#IHgwLYt4r0dWuJfU.97
I am really amazed with the Tamron. I was a tried and true Nikon guy. Many years ago, in my films days, I bought a 3 party lens. It ended up being soft, and I vowed I'd never make that mistake again. So I stuck with Nikon glass for all of my lense. That is until I decided to "Go Big". Well, to get a 600 mm in Nikon flavor, you have to go big all right. $13,000 worth of big, and it's not a zoom lens. That wasn't in my budget, so when a friend showed me the 150-600 I was intrigued. I did a bit of research and I was impressed. Is it as good as the Nikkor 600 mm prime? Well, I wouldn't know but the reviews say it's not. I think that's only fair, considering how you can buy a 12 pack of them for the same price! But it's a dang good lens, and I'm happy with it.
So.... I found out something about the "Sculpin". They're not Sculpins. They're apparently a fish called the Midshipman. (Maybe that's why they like hanging out near the sub base?)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midshipman_fish
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midshipman_fish
it's a great lens for the money, no question!!
how far away were you for this shot? really clear! i was over there last week at low tide, and the eagles - the few that were still around - were WAAAAAY out there...
I was fairly close, he landed there after I was in position. However, it is also cropped. Here's a full frame taken a moment later. That's at 600 mm. He was probably 50 feet away, maybe less. As you can see, he was keeping an eye on me. I stood motionless and let him get his catch. This is also where I got the shot of him pouncing.
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good fortune that he landed so close! when my fiend and i were there, there were only a few eagles... one adult and 3 juvies that looked to be either 1st or 2nd year. i think they were a family, as they all flew up into the trees on that point to the left of the oyster beds at one point. the closest any of them got was probably 75 yards...
Good luck assisted by local knowledge (knowing when to show up) and persistence (I probably visited at least 8 times, spending hours each time.). Some days were great, others lousy. If you spend enough time there, you get lucky. I had one fly so close over me that his wings made noise as he quickly changed direction (he was chasing somebody). No photos of that, I just watched and enjoyed knowing that he was too close to get a shot.