What a way to wrap up a workshop. This Bald Eagle was absolutely the star of our final day at Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico during my recent Better Than Bosque Workshop. After that classic Bosque moment—the thunderous blast-off of Snow Geese that fills your chest as much as your viewfinder—we made our way over to the spot where Joe, Nabs, and Sumi had seen an eagle the day before. That’s one of the beautiful parts of workshops like this: a little teamwork, a few good hunches, and a willingness to slow down and simply watch.

So we settled in, let the desert sunrise warm our backs, and waited. The ponds quieted. The excitement softened into anticipation. Then, just when it felt like maybe this bird would fly the wrong way, the eagle lifted from its perch and banked into the light—broad wings catching the sun, powerful, confident, and completely at home. It gave us a full, elegant show, gliding across the scene with the softly blurred Chupadera Mountains providing the perfect clean backdrop. Those subtle pastel tones behind that wild, elemental power… it just doesn’t get much better.

Moments like this are why I love Bosque and why I love sharing it with passionate photographers. You can’t script this stuff. You show up, respect the place, put in the time, and now and then, nature rewards you with something unforgettable. This eagle certainly did.