Bald Eagle, Mississippi River, Bellevue, Iowa
The people that live here in the Upper Mississippi Valley know if you like to see Bald Eagles during these very cold temperatures, you have to visit the places with open water. Since the big river is almost everywhere covered with ice, you can find the eagles mostly below the locks & dams that enable the boat traffic during the warm season and are placed about every 30 miles in the Mississippi River.
Juvenile Bald Eagle
I went to Lock & Dam #12 in Bellevue today and found more than a dozen Bald Eagles soaring above the water and hunting for fish. It took a little patience and a long focal length (840 mm) to get them in the viewfinder. The sun came out for a little bit and made for nice afternoon light. At -15ºC / 5ºF warm clothes, warm boots, and gloves are mandatory if you want to have fun and enjoy the photography of these majestic birds…