Dream bird

[sandboa]

OK, this one is a from a little outside of our usual area....and it isn't going to make any magazine covers, but it may be the most exciting photo I've ever taken.

When we go on overseas birding trips, we always make a wishlist of the top birds we want to see. Many of them are really dream birds which we have no real expectation of seeing, but that's the fun of dreaming. At the top of our list for Ecuador was every neotropical birder's dream bird - the magnificent Harpy Eagle.

Harpy Eagle's are critically endangered and have been extirpated from most of their range in Central America and some of South America. To see one, most people have to go to a known nesting site and stake it out.

We were on a small motorized canoe in the narrow Pañacocha River when a large bird flew down out of the canopy above us and swooped right over us. I immediately recognized the pattern and yelled "HARPY!"
(Our "expert" local guide replied, "No, I don't think so". )

It flew low right over our boat and swooped up intoa tree some 100 feet behind us. I managed to snap a few shots handheld, leaning on the canoe's canopy with my hands shaking from all the adrenaline. No, Nat Geo isn't going to call to buy the photo, but still the best Harpy Eagle photo I've ever taken or probably ever will take.




To actually see a wild example of this most magnificent of the world's raptors was a dream come true. To actually get a chance to record it in a photo was beyond anything I had imagined. Our guide had been working in the Amazon almost every day for the last 15 years and had seen a total of 4 harpys previously, all from much further away.

Check out those legs/talons. This is a bird that can pull a large adult monkey from a tree!

Thanks for allowing me to relive the moment. It's moments like this that make being outside special.

Chris

[Patti Edens]

Wow! What an incredible experience. If it hadn't been for your homework and ID skills, the bird would have likely not been noticed. That is so cool!

And, btw, I think you did a great job on the photos!

[preames]

That's a great find and a cool looking bird! Congratulations!

[David Alaniz]

Never seen or heard of one. That is a pretty neat looking bird. Good catch!

[MichaelW]

Congrats on your great capture. I would have been quite excited also.

[Kathy Adams Clark]

Congratulations, Chris! I've missed that bird on many trips to the tropics. You are so lucky and you come back with photos. Way to go!!

[labmansid]

Loved the story that went along with the shots, Chris. Sounds like your guide needs you along more often for ID purposes, maybe he has seen them more often than he thinks!! Quite a find you got there, that is an awesome looking bird! Thanks for the post.

[wapiti]

Magnificent! A capture of a lifetime.

[mjdmike]

Wow Chris, fantastic! Congrats. A great story and nice photo too, thanks for sharing both. Simply awesome. Dream bird indeed!

[lhdvies]

Wow, Chris, what a great break & you really took advantage of it-wonderfully done!!!
I saw one of these in a TV special several years back & that is the only time I've even seen a photo of one. Thks a lot for this post!!

Leon

[Fireball]

What an awesome catch! I'd be super duper excited also. Congrats!

[Shadow]

Great stuff, I'm jealous! For those who missed it, check out the PBS show on them here....
Harpy Eagles | Nature | PBS

[houtex01]

Wow Chris I got excited just reading about it...what an experience this must have been...hey what an experience this trip must have been...I'm not jealous...

Ron

[groovyone]

Wow! Nice catch!