I want to fly like an Eagle...

Wedge-tailed Eagle.

Aquila audax.

Cropped significantly, but it's not everyday you get to see these magnificent birds.

The Wedge-tailed Eagle averages 90cm - 1.1m tall with a wing span of 2.8m (and the female being larger).

These eagles occur across Australia but are usually seen soaring high in the sky.

View all photos taken: Tuesday, 7th July 2009, This photo: 12:01pm

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Comments

  • James Lagden said:
    Good spot Dave. I have yet to get a good close up picture of a Wedge tail. They are big birds!
  • accesser said:
    I think we all want a close up, Just have to be in the right place at the right time I spose.
  • Thea M said:
    Look for road kill. The back ground isn't too salubrious, though.
  • Joel Sergent said:
    Love the shine off it's back and wings
  • David de Groot said:
    I was hoping to get closer, but alas, they didn't let me, and I wasn't keen about walking across the field of freshly planted sugar cane right in front of the farmer...
    Very much so. I've seen them close, but haven't had a chance to shoot them at the time.
    I did that, but the Black Kites seemed to own that territory around my parent's area.
    Joel Sergent - Thanks :)
  • SkattyKat said:
    Great capture David -
    I'm surprised the farmer put you off lol
  • David de Groot said:
    Well I am generally a fairly considerate photographer, and thus don't always get "the" shot, but also don't get chased away by people either ;-)
  • looby88 said:
    fantastic bird, some pillock poisoned a Golden eagle over here awhile back, sadly eagles, buzzards and other birds of prey are still persecuted,
    great photo of him/her
  • David de Groot said:
    Sad news indeed. Mind you, farmers don't like these birds. A Wedge-tail will easily take a lamb, young sheep aren't beyond an attempt either.
  • photobitz said:
    Much better shot than I ever had of one in flight ;)
    I found a family of three cruising for rabbits near my place. They were really low and circled overhead for a little while. I rushed my camera gear out and took a whole bunch of shots then realised I had the shutter set to 1/30. DOH!
  • David de Groot said:
    Doh! indeed. I hate it when that happens.
    I've seen these guys up close but have never had a camera handy at the time (usually 'cause I'm driving at 100kph and notice a large bird on the side of the road).
  • AustralisWilds said:
    Ah you almost can't do well with these guys, unless you really are in the right place at the right time. I had a bit of an experience with these guys that I'm not forgetting easily, out between Uluru and Alice Springs. A pair of Wedgies (probably a breeding pair) were sitting in a couple of (conveniently) very small trees, about 4 or 5 metres off the ground. The bigger, the female I'm guessing, took off when she saw me. Somehow however, I'll neve though, the male didn't take off for about 10 minutes. It just sat there as I stood about 4 metres from the tree snapping away like mad. Beautiful, beautiful birds.