Endangered Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep 2021

Endangered Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep 2021

Dale Matson

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Sharon and I spent two sunny days in the Bishop area of California. I got some nice snowy landscape photographs but primarily we were there to try and locate, view, photograph and video the endangered Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep.

Each year we do this we refine our searches with some advance information from the CDFW and Steve Yeager (AKA the sheep whisperer) We focused on about three areas with the second day bringing us the closest photographs. 

A super telephoto lens is nice but the closer you can get, the sharper the shot. Even with a good tripod, the high canyon winds make photography difficult. It is a clever cat and mouse game you play with the sheep. They have an imaginary line where they will walk away from you as you approach. 

I can’t imagine more fun on a sunny day then watching these marvelous creatures once you find them, If you find them. We located one group of about 35 sheep and one other group of about 17 sheep. 

Steve told us about a group of rams but even after three separate trips to the area, we could not find any sheep! I hope we can find time for another trip yet this winter. 

Crazy Horns

Photo by Sharon

Photograph Of The Day

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Golden Eagle

Yes, there’s snow in the Sierra and Sharon, Hobbes (our mini Golden Doodle) and I did a mile or so but the action is starting to heat up down here near Fresno.

The eagles are hard to find this year at Millerton Lake because the water is so low. The trees the birds perch in to watch for fish are so far from the water that the birds are not in their usual places. I have not gone up yet to check on the Golden Eagles on the Madera side but I did see one perched in one of the usual places with my 10 power binoculars.

Today I went out to Madera county where we followed a pair of Goldens for the last three years. I am not quite sure what is going on with the pair this year but I got a photograph of one of the Goldens in a light rain on top of the nest tree. There was no activity in the nest that I could tell for the almost two hours the two of us (the bird and me) sat there. So here is a teaser for now.

Patience is a wildlife photographer’s best friend.

Millerton Eagle Close Up: December 2020

Dale Matson

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I apologize for the three weeks between postings. Millerton Lake is as low as I have ever seen it and the eagles have taken up new spots closer to the water to hunt for fish and coots. I recently discovered two new locations closer to the water and was able to approach a second-year bald eagle. The eagle let me get within 25 feet and I had my Sony 200-600mm lens with a 1.4X TC on it. Combined with my Sony A7R4, I could even shoot cropped for even closer shots. As I have said before, telephoto lenses are to make close shots closer. 

I was able to photograph this eagle near the Friant Dam and again near boat launch one. I was able to see about where it landed after it flew from the dam area. The eagle was cooperative and was actually still there when I had gotten all of the photos I wanted. I like it that way.

Because of Covid, there will be no Eagle Boat Tour this year. That is unfortunate because that is where I get a sense for where the eagles are hanging out. There is one cove on the Fresno County side of the lake where there is a group of about 50 coots. I have seen them in the same spot for three weeks but for some reason the eagles are not perched on that area of the shore.

I was hoping to see some first year juveniles from the nest I photographed last Spring but have not seen any yet.

Millerton Lake Hawk Close Up

Dale Matson

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    This is the season where the Bald Eagles begin to return to Millerton Lake for their seasonal visit from Great Slave Lake in Canada. Most visiting eagles should be here by January 1st. I have not seen any eagles foreign or domestic on my last couple of visits. The lake is very low right now with no rain/snow in the forecast. It seems like there is as much shore as lake!

    However, there are Hawks and I had a nice Red-Tailed Hawk to photograph today. I think this hawk is an old timer and remember the same bird letting me get close a couple of years ago.

    I was walking on the Blue Oak trail with my Sony A9 and 100-400mm GM lens. It’s not my biggest telephoto but it’s my most portable. 

    What was amazing that the hawk let me get within 15 or so feet. I got lots of photographs and went on my way, walking to Winchell Point and back. That is about 1.5 miles round trip. Imagine my surprise when the Hawk was still there, so I got even more close ups. What continues to amaze me is how few photographs showed both eyes. In some cases, the one eye was in the shadows and in other cases it was a side view. Anyway, the hawk was there when I left also. I like that.

    Boy, would I love to get a photograph of an eagle that close!