Living in NYC can be a pain in the butt when your photographic goal is capturing wildlife. You will definitely need more tricks in that hat of yours if you lack the magical 600mm. Those song birds will definitely need an increase in the biology knowledge department to snag those images. Want something bigger to photograph? How about out national bird the American Bald Eagle? Me and Dina took a trip on up to the Lackawaxen region of Pennsylvania. The Eagle Institute is located there at the upper Delaware. During the winter months the bald eagles migrate down to enjoy the fish at the shores edge of the Delaware river. You can also find them upward if RT-97 just 20 min toward Narrowsburg. Narrowsburg is exactly where Eagle Fest will be taking place January 17th. Eagle fest will be a collection of amateur birders, biologists, and bird lovers alike congregating in celebration and learning of the migration these beautiful birds make. One other place you can check out that we had better luck at seeing them at the Rio Reservoir, NY. Make sure to take Plank road (section A on Google maps) and follow it along the lake side looking for the eagles. At the time there were 2 matures and 3 immatures. Unfortunately with all the time spent (even camping out carrion for a long time we didn’t luck out.Experienced a pretend over-pretentious DEC worker trying to give me the cold shoulder to move on, but that’s another story.

In the spirit of being honest I had one shot at a bald eagle. Ever have that moment where you are anicipating the shot, your all ready. Your sensors are alert, adrenaline surging and your moment comes. Your subject enters the frame you go to shoot and something is wrong… Yeah well that was me. One shot full frame perfectly posed and that darn (said cleanly) focus rind was in manual mode.. It stings, it stings.

As the day would have it we didn’t want it to be a photographic waste (still had a great time being out there) we searched out other avenues of attention.

This is the Minisink Bridge. It used to be an aqueduct. It would carry small boats across the river. Really an awesome one way bridge now. Found a lonely mature American Bald Eagle a bit too far away. I figured you guys don’t like snowballs in a tree.

A pull off on the side of RT-97. The sun just doesn’t make it’s way around. I felt although the lighting was extreme it played nicely. Couldn’t stay here too long with traffic going 55mph and chunks of large ice falling over the side. One came nice and close.

I felt like providing some proof of the piece of carrion. Now doesn’t that look like a fine piece of meat to you? Apparently only the blujays seemed to enjoy it. Better luck next time (going back when I get back, occurances of the eagles improve as the winter gets deeper.)

There were lots of great mini falls around. This was an image I really enjoyed taking. I have heard so much of diffraction with digital. I don’t know about most, but this was shot at f/32 with my Tamron `17-50mm f/2.8 and it was a heck of a lot sharper then my exposures between f/11-f/22. Symantics and technical mumbojumbo get in the way all too often.

This is Raymondskill Falls. I wasn’t expecting all that much. Turns out it a ferocious feeling waterfall. Tons of mist, ice, earth, and lots of slopes for you to fall off of. Good times and an experience that definitely completed the day. I would revisit at noon knowing what the lighting is around sunset (when this was taken.)

This closing photograph we took crossing the Delaware (at many points going beween New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania) reminded me of Gardner River in Yellowstone National Park here. Balancing myself trying not to get hit by traffic reminded me of fond memories of Base Camp in Anchorage, Alaska. Haha Moose and my buddies along side the road with me know what I mean.