A week-long Natures Images trip to Homer, Alaska in February was perfect for photographing Bald Eagles and Sea Otters in the depth of winter when conditions were bitterly cold and there was a lot of snow and ice. Homer is renowned for a large winter population of eagles, mainly as a result of one lady who was known as the "Eagle Lady" , Jean Keene. Jean was a former rodeo trick rider who, after a serious injury, moved to Homer. She used to feed birds with regular feeders but noticed a few Bald Eagles around so started feeding them fish scraps. The rest is history, and at the peak she was feeding them an estimated 227kg fish per day and attracting up to 300 egles to the Homer Spit!! She passed away in 2009, but permits are still given to boat skippers who are allowed to feed eagles across Kachemak Bay, and this was what we spent the week doing. We estimated there must have been over 300 eagles around in the various coves off Kachemak Bay, and as soon as the boat appeared so did the eagles. We were able to watch them both from the boat and from the beaches, providing opportunities for some very special encounters and images. We saw eagles flying down to take fish from the water in sunshine, cloud and snow, watched them walking along the beach and over snowy spits, flying in front of ice walls and spectacular backdrops of the mountains of the Kenai Peninsula. A particular highlight was lying on the snow with eagles flying down very close - you certainly appreciate their size when you can feel their wings as they fly nearby! We also saw many Sea Otters, some within the harbour at Homer and others across the bay. These are adorable characters and seeing mothers with pups was very special. Huge thanks to Danny Green for getting us in all the right places, at the right times and in the right light, and to Brian our excellent skipper.

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