It was another beautiful Colorado afternoon for a winter adventure with the bald eagles of the annual migration. Eleven Mile Canyon in Lake George was mentioned as a location for eagles making the long trip for the winter migration, so I thought I’d check it out.
The entry fee for the canyon is $10 a day, unless you purchase a season pass from Rocky Mountain Recreation for $100. I always make sure to order my pass in late December, so I don’t miss any of the winter action!
Our nesting pair was at the entrance of the canyon, preparing their nest for the upcoming breeding season. They should be laying eggs within a week or two, and the watch for little eaglets will begin! By the middle of April, we should be seeing little heads popping above the rim of the nest!
I was greeted by this beautiful juvenile bald eagle standing on a rock in the middle of the river. I knew he was a newcomer and would likely be easily spooked, so I pulled ahead a bit and parked my jeep behind a giant boulder. I set my camera to a 2000th of a second in Tv mode, and stealthily walked around the boulder.
Of course he spotted me right away and prepared to take flight. I wanted to get the rushing river in the image, but there was no time to re-compose. It was all I could do to capture these images before the great raptor disappeared behind the boulder. Unfortunately, I never saw this handsome fellow again on this day.
Shortly thereafter, I encountered this amazing little northern shrike. I wanted to see eagles, but I still took time out to watch this fierce little fellow hunt for his prey.
My next encounter was this beautiful bald eagle perched on a limb in one of the familiar dead trees lining the riverbank. He spotted me right away, so I readied for a quick exit from the great raptor. This particular eagle has spots on his head, and has been aptly named “Speckles” by many of the regular eagle watchers in the canyon.
And as you can see the amazing eagle did not disappoint. He ruffled his feathers and prepared for flight. I made sure my camera was set to a 2000th of a second and prepared myself for a launch. I was pleased to capture this wonderful view of his massive wingspan as he sped away.
Unfortunately, there were no more eagles to be spotted on this day, but I thought this section of river looked particularly beautiful with the massive cliffs of the canyon towering overhead in the background. The silhouette of the fly fisherman provides scale for the grandeur of the ice lined South Platte River.
Here are few more of my favorite images from this adventure. I hope you enjoy them! Some of these images will soon be available for purchase on glossy metal or acrylic sheets ready for hanging, stretched canvas, and traditional matting and framing.
Please consider S.W. Krull Imaging as your travel photographer when planning your next vacation or sporting event the Rocky Mountains! Remember your very important events with professional pictures taken by an expert sports and event photographer!
Steven W. Krull is a renowned photographer and author who has been photographing and writing of the beauty and wildlife of the Colorado Rocky Mountains for over two decades. Please visit his website at S.W. Krull Imaging to view his work, including thousands of prints for sale, stock images for commercial use, and his library of published books.
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Colorado Photographer / Author / Wildlife Advocate | Steven W. Krull 