It’s hard to find a good reason to leave the house in the depths of a cold, wet winter. I’m very much like a hobbit that way—give me books, blankets, and a hot drink, and I’m set. But photography is one of the few things that can lure me outside this time of year.
This time, it took a pretty big carrot—in the form of a new camera lens—to coax me out the door at 5:15 A.M. It was the second day of the Reelfoot Lake Eagle Festival, and I’d signed up for a sunrise eagle tour with a friend. I was going on an adventure!
A park ranger loaded eight of us into a passenger van and guided us to several eagle hot spots around the lake. Thanks to years of dedicated conservation, Reelfoot Lake is now home to a thriving population of bald eagles. They live there year-round, but during the winter months, their numbers grow even more—Reelfoot boasts one of the largest populations of wintering eagles in the lower 48. In January and February, they’re relatively easy to find. Just ask the hunters—eagles are known for stealing ducks before they can be retrieved.
As promised, we saw plenty of eagles, including a few juveniles. But they were far away, and even with my mighty “Bigma” lens (the Sigma 50–500mm), the photos were underwhelming.
After the two-hour tour ended, my friend suggested we go exploring on our own. As a fellow photographer, she hadn’t rolled out of bed at 4 a.m. just to go home empty-handed. She grew up around Reelfoot, had hunted and explored it for years, and knew a ton about the local waterfowl.
I had my own personal guide—and she didn’t disappoint. We came across flocks of mallards (the classic green-headed ducks). She explained they’re a type of “puddle duck,” meaning they prefer shallow water.
We spotted snow geese too—so many that it was almost overwhelming.
Then came a flock of seagulls (cue your favorite '80s joke here). Reelfoot is home to several gull species, but what we saw were ring-billed gulls.
We also spotted a few Great Blue Herons, which live around the lake year-round. They eat small fish, reptiles, amphibians, and occasionally even ducks. Most meals are swallowed whole—which sometimes leads to herons choking on prey they’ve misjudged.
In the end, the trip was a success. We captured some solid images and I learned a lot about the local wildlife.
If you’re curious about Reelfoot Lake State Park, its wildlife, or upcoming events, check out their website. It’s a hidden gem—especially in winter.
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