Q for those of you who have know about Bald Eagles in LLano.

[jonnydonut]

just a few questions, because I'm really wanting to make a trip out there.

First - If I make it out there march 15th. Will the eagles still be around, or will they have started heading north by then? That's my spring break and the soonest I can make it out.

Second - What time of day is best? Are they more active early in the morning? Mid day? I've heard lighting in best in the morning there.

Third - I'm going to rent a lens. I have a 70-200 2.8L, and a old 300mm f/5.6, But I don't think either one of them will get the job done. What focal length should I shoot for. What about using an extender. How cropped are the images that are posted on here.

Fourth - any other advice appreciated.

thanks
-Jonny

[phillip ino]

Wow I didn't know there were bald eagles out that way. I'm interested in seeing the responses to this..

[123canon]

i think there is a post in nature/wildlife about them. they say the chicks are starting to get active.....

[Roadrnr]

Originally Posted by jonnydonut

just a few questions, because I'm really wanting to make a trip out there.

First - If I make it out there march 15th. Will the eagles still be around, or will they have started heading north by then? That's my spring break and the soonest I can make it out.

Second - What time of day is best? Are they more active early in the morning? Mid day? I've heard lighting in best in the morning there.

Third - I'm going to rent a lens. I have a 70-200 2.8L, and a old 300mm f/5.6, But I don't think either one of them will get the job done. What focal length should I shoot for. What about using an extender. How cropped are the images that are posted on here.

Fourth - any other advice appreciated.

thanks
-Jonny

You should be ok around the 15th. The eagles stay until about April I think. As far as time of day. Sunrise. Get there early so you can get setup and catch them early. The fine folks at Cottonwood Photography will probably be there too.

Lenswise...go with the longest focal length you can possibly get. I have an old 600-1000mm manual focus lens that can get fairly close. I would say go with a 400mm or 600mm and an extender if you can't find anything longer. A 600 should work well for you, even with cropping.

I'm hoping to be out there around the 8th of March. I haven't had a chance to go out there this year.

[kronos2818]

I was in LLano two weeks ago Feb15 and the eagle's nest that was by the highway had a family of two adults and two babys, the baby's were starting to test thier wings by jumping up and down and flapping their wings. So I don't think they will be much longer. But if you google the LLano Tourist Center they can tell you if they if the eagle's are still in the nest.

Now the two eagle's nest that are on Lake Buckannon also had eagles but the babies were flying already, So I am about 90% sure that they have flown away already. We stayed at "The Canyon Of the Eagles Resort" so you may want to call them and ask if the eagles are still in the Lake.

For both sets eagle nest I took my Canon 70-200mm F=2.8 IS Lens with a 2x adaptor and it still was not long enough to get good size photos. The local paper had to use a 600mm lens in order to get photos of the eagles nest by the highway and post them in thier newspaper.

I two will be back in that area on the 15th of March, but I dout the eagles will be there.
But check with the tourist center.

Good luck.

[Stephen P]

Originally Posted by jonnydonut

just a few questions, because I'm really wanting to make a trip out there.

First - If I make it out there march 15th. Will the eagles still be around, or will they have started heading north by then? That's my spring break and the soonest I can make it out.

Second - What time of day is best? Are they more active early in the morning? Mid day? I've heard lighting in best in the morning there.

Third - I'm going to rent a lens. I have a 70-200 2.8L, and a old 300mm f/5.6, But I don't think either one of them will get the job done. What focal length should I shoot for. What about using an extender. How cropped are the images that are posted on here.

Fourth - any other advice appreciated.

thanks
-Jonny

They should still still be there. I am going to try to go back as well, but if you rent any lens, rent a 600mm and 1.4x TC to with it.

I was down there in December and got this one. It was with a Sigma 500mm + 1.4x TC.



I still had to crop this one substantially, but it turned out okay I feel.

Early morning is the absolute best time. I got there right at sunrise and within about an hour of being there I had gotten my best shots. The way the sun is at this time of year after about 11:30 or so, the nest is very backlit as are the good perches so any decent shot I feel are gotten in the morning.

[studiocygnet]

Really, whether or not they will still be there depends on the weather patterns for the next couple weeks. Since it was cold yesterday, that will keep them around. They tend to wait for a few good days in a row of warm weather and winds from the south, to make their commute a little easier. If there are a few nice warm days in a row, that signals them to head out. I hear we are expecting maybe some sleet late Thursday into Friday of this week. That will keep them around a bit longer. Also, this obviously also depends on whether the chicks have fledged or not. They need to have been flying for a bit.

[J Eddington]

Just saw them tonight. The babies look like they are ready to fly at any moment.