I’m a die-hard fan of the bald eagle. Obsessed with the way it stands—so regal, the grace of its flight, the sheer power in its dive that cuts through the sky, and that commanding presence when it hunts. For just a chance “encounter,” I’ll bundle up and wait for hours on the dam, even when snowflakes smudge my lens. Catching a single glimpse makes it all worth it.
My usual spots are mostly in Maryland Conowingo Dam—along with Croton Point Park in New York and the Marshlands Conservancy near Rye. Over the past year, I’ve shared bits and pieces of these “encounters” across social media. Now, I want to gather every moment from 2025 into one long, visual love letter.
Most of the shots come from this setup: Nikon Z9 + Z600mm F4 prime with a 1.4x teleconverter. Sometimes I switch to the Nikon Z8 + 180–600mm zoom for more spontaneous scenes. My shutter rarely dips below 1/2000s, aperture floats between F4 and F10 with the light, and I’ll bravely push ISO up to 12000 when needed—because sometimes, noise is kinder than missing the moment.
It’s not about proving how capable the gear is or how perfect the settings are. It’s that split second when the eagle spreads its wings—and you know: this is what I’ve been waiting for.
我是白头鹰的粉丝。痴迷它们停驻的帅气，飞行的优雅，俯冲时那股划破长空的力量， 还有捕食时那种霸气。为了“偶遇”，我能裹成熊在坝上蹲半天，哪怕雪花糊镜头，只为见上它一眼，这些都不值得一提。
我常去的地方大多在马里兰科诺文戈大坝，纽约州的克罗顿角公园，黑麦镇附近的沼泽地保护区。过去一年，零零散散在社交平台上分享过不少“偶遇”。如今想把2025年的所有凝视，整理成一场漫长的告白。
大部分照片来自这套组合：尼康 Z9 + Z600mm F4 定焦加1.4倍增距镜。偶尔换尼康 Z8 + 180-600mm 变焦，追更随性的场景。快门常年设在 1/2000 秒以上，光圈随着光线在 F4 到 F10 之间游走，ISO 有时勇敢推到 12000——毕竟有些时刻，噪点比错过温柔。
不是为了证明什么设备多强，参数多准。只是当白头鹰展开翅膀的刹那，你会觉得，等得就是这一刻。
Eagle standoff 鹰之对峙
A juvenile fiercely fights an adult over its catch in an intense battle with no clear winner.
幼年白头鹰对决成年鸟。 为争一获，二者凌空激战，但二者皆输。
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Another bout. Two juveniles locked in combat over food—and another standoff, with no winner claimed.
双雏争食，羽翼交击如乱云翻墨——终成对峙之局，胜负决于青空，但亦无胜者。
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Mid-air duel: two juveniles fight for a catch, while a cormorant eyes the prize from below. This time, the young hunter held firm and kept its meal.
空中激斗，两幼鸟争食；水下紧盯，一鸬鹚伺机 想”渔翁“得利。此番，小猎手未失手，携餐而归。
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Eagle’s Strike 鹰之猎水
Juvenile’s try. Flawless execution.
雏试羽翼，一击成功。
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One more try, one more triumph.
再试一回，再胜一场。
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An attempt missed.
功败垂成，失之毫厘。
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Eagles’ Dancing 鹰之舞
Adult eagles wheel and dance across the sky in the chill of snow.
雪寒长空，苍鹰旋舞。
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Aerial dance: the elder eagle teaches the young.
苍穹之舞：老鹰携幼，扶翼以教。
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A Dance of Brotherly Love.
手足之舞，情谊交响。
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Dancing with gulls—a harmony of wind and wing.
与鸥共舞，风翼协奏
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Eagles and catch 鹰与猎物
A young hunter’s prize: a skyborne victory.
少年初猎，天授荣勋。
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A young hunter’s prize in the falling snow.
雪空一获，少年志成。
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Eagles in the Sky 天空之鹰
In a snowy day, poised to strike, and cleaves the vast sky.
白雪飘飘，蓄势待发，鹰击长空。
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Mature eagles in flight.
成年雄鹰，凌空翱翔。
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Juveniles eagles (2-3 year old) in flight.
少年 (二至三岁）雄鹰，振风而起。
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Immature eagles (less than one year old) in flight.
雏鹰 （少于一岁）展翅，试翼云天。
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