Bald Eagle - Homer, Alaska (click to view larger)
We - meaning my partner in the photography workshop/tour business, Ric Kessler and yours truly - arrived in Anchorage very early Saturday to meet the participants in our first - and most likely last - gig in Homer, AK. Since we were hanging around town waiting for everyone to arrive on Saturday we went to downtown Achorage for the ceremonial start of the Iditarod dog sled race and made a few images just for fun. The 225 mile drive down the Kenai Peninsula to Homer was something of an adventure because for me it was the first time I'd driven in snow in about 18 years. No Problem.
It was still snowing when we arrived in Homer Sunday afternoon but we checked into the motel then drove down to The Spit to see what we could see. Our four trip members were blown away by the number of Bald Eagles on The Spit this time of year(as I'm sure anyone would be). Everyone made a few images in the otherwise miserable weather before heading back to town for dinner and a good night's sleep.
Bald Eagle on snow. (click to view larger)
Monday turned out to be snow-free but with heavy overcast, conditions that prevent really great photography. The morning was spent at Jean Keene's (Homer's famous Eagle Lady) where we made images of birds flying and/or perching around the frenzy that is her eagle feeding. Following a late breakfast and a short time to copy images over to computers we went back out for more photo ops followed by a drive around the area looking with little success for moose (found one group of 4 bedded down just off the highway in a place where it would have been quite unsafe to park). We also checked out the Homer landfill which turns out to be not much different than the Tomoka Landfill in Daytona - teeming with eagles.
Tuesday turned out to be a snow day again with a couple of inches falliing during the morning and early afternoon. Made for some challenging photography but I won't complain too much since all I really got last year was Bald Eagles in beautiful sunny conditions. Need the "environmental" stuff to round out the portfolio, right? The weather system is supposed to finally move out today and the forecast is for sunny and cold the rest of our time here in Homer.
Bald Eagle flying in light snow. (click to view larger)
I have spent some time chatting up some of the locals regarding the Bald Eagle feeding "controversy" that has been gripping Homer for the last several years. I am working on a rather lengthy look at the situation that I plan to post sometime after I return to Florida.
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