On January 28th (2014) I needed to take my wife to the Bellingham Airport so I loaded up my photographic gear and planned to bird my way back to Anacortes across the Skagit Flats.

It seemed like a bad day for photography.  I managed to find a few goldeneyes within barely photographic range in Bellingham Bay, but as I drove across the flats there was a lack of birds.  There were Red-tailed hawks but they were all on power poles or lines and all had their backs turned to me.  Upon nearing Anacortes I decided to drive around March Point, which had been very productive over the past several weeks.  But even the east side of March Point Road brought no photographic opportunities.  All that was soon to change.

As I drove down the west side of March Point Road a Bald eagle flew across the road towards a nest on refinery property.  As I quickly watched it through the upper portion of my windshield I was aware of a large ‘blob’ on the water side of the road.  A quick glance told me that it was another eagle, and this one was very near the road and at eye level!  I had the composure to drive past it, then turned around and returned for photos.  I was so close to this eagle that I had to back off my 400mm lens just to get it all in the photo!  These are probably some of the best Bald eagle photos I’ve ever taken!

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle