Looky what I saw on the way home

[Tom Wilson]

Saw this 4 year old on the way home from the duck pond today. This was the closest I have ever been to an Bald Eagle. This is a full frame shot--70-200mm @ 420mm.

Tom W

[Steve Foss]

Nice shot. He looks grumpy.

A 70-200mm lens at 420mm? You got a 2.1x teleconverter I've never heard about?

[buzzsaw]

I think it has something to do with the D2X up crop factor or something that I can't explain, soi I'll let Tom have fun with that one.

[The_Duckslayer]

Tom, how do you know? Did he turn to you and say "I'm four"? Nice picture! Have a good one././Jimbo

[buzzsaw]

His "guess" is probably pretty close as a mature eagle gets a full white head around five years of age and this one is still showing some brown mixed in. Now that is NOT an exact science as this bird could be younger or older but I'd guess three to four yrs old myself. Check out this link.

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/www/critters/eagle/826572782.html#35

P.S. Tom, we will have to get you closer... that distance is just not acceptable. unless you go out and get the 600mm prime.

[Steve Foss]

If he can swing a 600 prime, Tom is DEFINITELY going to have to introduce me to his banker.

The D2X crop factor explains all. Sounds like a combo of crop factor and 1.4 teleconverter.

P.S. -- I'dve guessed four years old too.

[Tom Wilson]

Steve,

You got it--70-200 VR with a 1.4x tele, + the 1.5x crop factor. Distance to bird was only about 40 feet--it was the closest I've ever been to a wild Eagle.

Jimbo,

A Bald Eagle hits full maturity at 4.5 to 5 years of age. The white feathers of their head will start to come in at the start of their fourth year and be complete by the start of their fifth year. The intermix of brown tells you that this dude is around 4.5 years old.

Tom W

[The_Duckslayer]

OK guys, I was only giving Tom some guff about the age thing. Tom, Buzz, Hobby do you guys plan to be at the pond at all this weekend? The Lil Mrs brought me 4 boxes of cigars last night. Have a good one and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

[buzzsaw]

A few of us were planning on going down to Red Wing for the eagle scenery. If the weather is overcast that will put a major damper in the day and it looks like a wintery mix is forecast so with that being said if it's sunny then Red Wing is on and if it's not then it looks like plan B.

[WALLEYENUTZ]

my guess 4.2352 years old!!!

Tom did you get my email the other day?

[Tom Wilson]

No I didn't bud. I have been in the process of switching everything over to the new computer and lost alot of mail from the way it sounds. Please re-send.

Tom