More sea eagles

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Canonguy
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More sea eagles

This particular morning, I just popped up the hide, rather than let the birds get accustomed to it. Within five minutes of daylight a young White-bellied Sea Eagle came in to feed on my fish scraps.

Sadly, the beautiful light lasted barely five minutes. Wish I had it for the eagle landing shot too, but alas, I did not. Only gives me the drive to keep going out more and more until I nail the shot.

Devster
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Still some excellent results CG. 

I love the first shot!

I also like the lighting of the last few.

Do you put the fish on that perch or on the ground?

Canonguy
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HI mate

Thank you!

I put some on the perch and attach them with a light string (which I cut off completely later as I leave the site), and some on the ground.

miccro
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lovely shots and light, 

id be living in that hide!

enjoy

mike

Annie W
Annie W's picture

I never tire of looking at your amazing shots Ákos, incredible.  Brilliant to see the difference in warmth and overall tones with the more friendly light in those last few shots.  Less friendly light aside, I really like the intense pose in the second (portrait) shot, including the messy beak looklaugh.

What sort of hide do you take with you, is it like a pop-up tent type - I've been looking for one of those or similar, but can only find them in hunting shops o/s & I refuse to support hunting establishments smiley.

West Coast Tasmania

Canonguy
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Canonguy wrote:

Thank you.

Annie, I know what you mean. I guess, in principle, I don't like hunting. But I can appreciate hunters taking out the feral animals, which cause a lot of damage to our native landscape and wildlife. I have a good mate who hunts pigs, deer and foxes, feral cats. I could not do it myself (I don't think), but I know he loves the Aussie wildlife as much as we do here and would never hurt a roo, or any other animal we treasure as natives.

I don't think I've seen an Ameristep blind in anything other than a hunting shop. However, there are other blinds that you can probably buy elsewhere. Ask Karl G (if you're friends with him on FB) where he bought his blind recently. Send me a text if you cannot get hold of him.

sparrow
sparrow's picture

Stunning images Akos ,we have a pair living at Lake Fyne it seems like every time I take my eyes off them to start fishing one will zip down and grab a fish great to watch but I would love to get a photo, I might take a leaf out of your book and try floating some small redies as bait and see if they will grab one . .

Anne,I got my hide the same place I get everything else, eBay !

dmp
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Excellent set.

outstar79
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Stunning images, well done! 

Devster
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Is that fish a Mahi Mahi Akos?

Canonguy
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Devster wrote:

Is that fish a Mahi Mahi Akos?

Nope. I am pretty certain it's a Rainbow Trout

jason

How beautiful, well done. I get lost in the lay of the feathers, the lighter tipping and tones through out the birds coat, and white trim near the wing joint and chest are just amazing.  The intensity in rapters's eyes is always so focused and aggressive. Always and ready to go in a miliseconds notice.  Thanks 

Ipswich Shire Eastern flanks

Canonguy
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Thank you for your comments!

Sparrow
make sure your fish is frozen so it floats

Devster
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Canonguy wrote:
Devster wrote:

Is that fish a Mahi Mahi Akos?

Nope. I am pretty certain it's a Rainbow Trout

Ah yes I can see that now. Don't know what I was thinking, the head is all wrong for Mahi Mahi blush

Reflex
Reflex's picture

Great shots Akos and some good tips. Much appreciated.

Samford Valley Qld.

Annie W
Annie W's picture

Canonguy wrote:
Canonguy wrote:

Thank you.

Annie, I know what you mean. I guess, in principle, I don't like hunting. But I can appreciate hunters taking out the feral animals, which cause a lot of damage to our native landscape and wildlife. I have a good mate who hunts pigs, deer and foxes, feral cats. I could not do it myself (I don't think), but I know he loves the Aussie wildlife as much as we do here and would never hurt a roo, or any other animal we treasure as natives.

I don't think I've seen an Ameristep blind in anything other than a hunting shop. However, there are other blinds that you can probably buy elsewhere. Ask Karl G (if you're friends with him on FB) where he bought his blind recently. Send me a text if you cannot get hold of him.

Fair point smiley, there's good and bad, with my mind pigeon-holing only along the lines of mindless sport hunting types etc.  Thanks for that, I'll keep on looking and give Karl a yell out too. yes

Sparrow, do you use a blind or hide?  If so, what do you use?

West Coast Tasmania

WhistlingDuck

Fantastic, really wonderful photos.

sparrow
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Annie, I have a Chinese pop up hide it looks like the Ameristep dome it was about $90 on eBay ,if you get one practice folding it back up again they pop up in seconds but they can be a pain to fold down untill you get the hang of it.

Reflex
Reflex's picture

sparrow wrote:

Annie, I have a Chinese pop up hide it looks like the Ameristep dome it was about $90 on eBay ,if you get one practice folding it back up again they pop up in seconds but they can be a pain to fold down untill you get the hang of it.

 I bought the same hide Sparrow but I still can't work out how to fold it back up so that it's small enough to go back in the carrying bag it came in!angry

Samford Valley Qld.

sparrow
sparrow's picture

Ha Ha ! there's a video on the site I bought my hide from showing how to fold it down I watched it a few of times before the hide arived but it still took a couple of goes the first time, I was at the edge of the lake with some kids watching I was so relieved when it folded up and went back in the bag !

A mate borrowed it last year and his wife rang me about 10pm that night asking how to fold it he had been trying for over an hour and had gone for a walk to calm down and she wanted to have it back in the bag when he got back !

I told her about the video and she brought it up on computer and left it there for him to watch and went to bed it was in the bag in the mornning ,she said so you worked it out ,he just grunted a few bad words and went off to take some photos.

sparrow
sparrow's picture

Thanks Akos for the tip on freezing the fish I'll give it a go.

Reflex
Reflex's picture

Found it! Off to try and fold it up now!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow9WIbqhRW0

Samford Valley Qld.

vas
vas's picture

Awesome as usual Canonguy. 
It's a Rainbow Trout for Mr Eagle. Hehe that guy would have gotten nothing more than a mullet or carp if it was me. I won't share any trout with birds as i love eating trout wink

Canonguy
Canonguy's picture

Ha.
I buy fish frames Vas at $4.00/kg. That way it doesn't send me broke.

vas
vas's picture

Hehe that probably cost less than the fuel i spend to catch mine winkbut i have caught them walking the banks in the Nepean River if Waragamba overflows and along the little creeks that feed the Nepean like Glenbrook creek, Erskine etc. But what happens is they usually die in summer from the warm water tempatures.
I am very use to seeing Sea Eagles and Wedge tails when kayak fishing, especially Castlereagh stretch of the river and the Gorge. A few seasons ago i witnessed a few taking rainbow and brown trout from the river itself. Most looked like they where tired and wounded from the big ridel over the wall. I also see mullet, carp get taken as well as aussie salmon, tailor etc in the salt when fishing. 

Spectacular sights especially on the Nepean when waterfowl make a dash from the banks due to getting spooked from myself or mates in kayaks. On a few occasions the sea eagles have caught the fowl and if i didn't have a rod in my hands i would try capturing the moments on camera.
Also got within 2-3 metres of a big Wedge-tail while running some rapids once. This particular eagle decided a large 1.8m (estimate) red belly would become a meal. It was really interesting to get so close as he had his talons keeping him busy and did not get freightened at all by my presence. Unfortunately i couldn't get a shot (even with my PS camera) due to the fast and bumpy rapid while passing it.
I really should do some solo paddles with a good dry bag when i get some more lens reach, just trying to work out a good way to mount my camera onto the sit-in kayak, maybe just a tripod head mounted somehow on where my front rod holder goes with quick release system as the camera would really get in my way when paddling fast or running the rapids.
Your photo's and a few others are starting to give me a raptor photography bug since i have a decent camera these days that can do BIF well smiley . As much as i like to keep fishing and bird photography seperate i might have to merge the two soon.

I also have access to some private lagoons and swamps where u feel u are away from sydney but not really and the fishing and wildlife thrives. I cannot name them as i would make the land owners angry if i named or took anyone there but i see things like sea eagles in nests making stress calls very loudly when wedge tails enter the area etc but i have not witnessed any altercations between the two. Iv'e got some bad quality P&S photo's of the pair of sea eagles in a nest making stessed calls and then a wedge-tail in the sky.  

Canonguy
Canonguy's picture

My ideal thing would be a kayak or canoe so would be interested to know what one you have? I guess it's a light, fishing kayak. You got a photo of yours Vas?

I need something sturdy and tough so I can comfortably fit with my 500/4 lens.

Are you talking about properties near Castlereagh? I have access to a few local properties and wish I had more time to explore them too, but would be interested to know the general location if you are ok with it (you can send a private message). I monitor two sea eagle nest sites around Penrith and know of one in Yarramundi on the west side of the river, but I have not yet tracked that down, as that's apparently on someone's private property on the river. As for the Wedge-tailed Eagles, they breed somewhere near, but so far I've found two old nests that have not been used a while.

vas
vas's picture

I have an Australis Barra kayak and i also have a Australis Bass kayak which is the same thing but without a keel.
You are more than welcome to try one of mine out somewhere local if u ever want to arange an arvo or something to test trial. They are very stable and you really got to do something silly to tip them. They take about 130kg total weight and only weigh about 18kg and are easy to roof rack.
The sit-in kayaks keep the wind off you more and also conceals you better. Animals like possums and roos wonder what i am and i can get very close as well as most birds.

A canoe is ok but they are generally not stable and not the best for solo work and take alot more effort to launch

More North from Windsor and Richmond around Colo and Wollemi NP etc. I have seen some wedge-tail nests around Maroota but this was a few years back now, i really need to jog my memory exactly where i saw it. I have also seen many wedge-tail nests in the country in areas like Tomingley, Mudgee, Stewart Town and Lithgow near the upper cox while 4wd'n and fishing the Cox

Here are some images of my Barra kayak

Reflex
Reflex's picture

That might be alright for fishing out off or just having a look about but I'd be reluctant to take my camera and lens in one of those. 

I have seen canoes with outriggers (both sides) that I thought would be pretty stable?

Samford Valley Qld.

vas
vas's picture

One could always setup outriggers on the kayak too. Very easily done. The fishing type kayaks are more stable than people would believe and alot more stable than any canoe iv'e been on bare hull with person/s onboard. There are alot of very stable sit-ons and sit-ins out there.

Canonguy
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I'm on two weeks leave from this Friday. Send me a text to 0423144332 and I'll call you to check out the kayak.
Thank you for the kind offer

vas
vas's picture

No dramas mate glad to help.  I sent you a sms so you have my number.

 

Canonguy
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Vas

Thanks heaps mate. I will call you in the next couple of days.

HelloBirdy
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Nice! A W-B Sea eagle is certainly on my wish list

Ryu
Canberra
Aiming for DSLR-quality shots with a bridge camera

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