Harpy Eagle (always be prepared)

I did not expect to see this magnificent bird: the Harpy Eagle.

The Harpy Eagle is one of the most sought after bird by photographers and birders. Well, anyone who pays the rainforest of the Amazon a visit. Even though I have seen the Harpy Eagle countless time in the years that I work at the resort, I still can't get enough of this magnificent creature.

The thing is: they won't tell you when they are in the neighborhood. When I took these pictures I had a smaller lens on the camera (200 mm instead of 500 mm). This explains why the raptor looks so far away, but it was actually quite close. It wasn't a large bird but still. The Harpy Eagle always makes my day. I can watch it for a long period of time without getting bored. 

Sometimes I even stop taking pictures and just look at the bird with my own eyes. You just watch and wait for what will happen next. They usually are not bothered by the presence of us, they just scan the area and after a while (usually 30+ minutes) they will fly into the forest or go across the river. 

You may also like the following posts:

nice surprise

a common rare bird

an unexpected meeting (again)