Bald Eagle Nest Photography Walk at Historic Sotterley

Written & Photographs by Ken Barlow, 14 April 2026

On Saturday, 11 April 2026, Historic Sotterley in Hollywood, MD hosted a Bald Eagle Nest Photography Walk (Figure 1).  Photographers from the St. Mary’s County Camera Club (SMCCC.org), Coastal Camera Club (Coastalcameraclub.com), and the Bowie-Crofton Camera Club (B-CCC.org) participated in the 2 mile walk along with individuals from the Southern Maryland tri-county area, Anne Arundel County, and Northern Virginia.  The 3-hour walk was led by Ken Barlow, a Sotterley member, who has been watching and photographing the eagle nests over several years.

Figure 1: Group Photo with an extra eagle photoshop friend joining us in one of the background trees

The walkers were able to view the inactive nest from multiple directions to view the eagle nest size (up to 6 feet in diameter by 4 feet deep).  This is the first time since 2011 that this particular nest has been in active, but the second nest was in full use.  Based upon the behavior of this eagle pair, the egg(s) were laid in late February and should have just hatched in early April.  The little eaglet(s), which are not visible yet, should be visible at some time over the next 3 to 4 weeks.  This pair of eagles, in both Figures 2 & 3, both took to the air during this warm spring day while the group was watching from a reasonable distance (200 yards).  This gave the photographers a good chance to use their equipment.  During part of the eagle flight, the group witnessed a crow chasing one of the eagles.  This is common crow behavior, but it was the first time most in this group, including myself, witnessed this type of event.

Figure 2: Bald Eagle landing on a branch at the Active Nest
Figure 3: Bald Eagle soaring over the fields at Sotterley

Besides the eagles and their nest, the group saw blue birds, ospreys, vultures, goldfinches, warblers, and swallowtail butterflies among the varied wildlife.  Some of the group splintered off to photograph the gardens, the Sotterley creek water pier, and/or the Manor House from the field.  It was a perfect spring blue sky day with minimum wind and cumulus clouds (i.e., fluffy, cotton-like clouds) to enhance the landscape photographs (Figure 4). 

Figure 4: Historic Sotterley Manor House viewed from the field

All in all, the group was very amenable and enjoyed the walk around the Sotterley facilities & grounds.  My thanks to Historic Sotterley (Sotterley.org) for hosting this event and scheduling a  great spring weather day.

Ken Barlow has been a St. Mary’s County Maryland resident since 1995, when he was part of the Great Navy Civilian BRAC migration plan.  Over the last two years he has photo-documented via camera club presentations the Bald Eagle nesting patterns and eaglet growth rates.  He is a retired engineer and staying busy as a Sotterley member, EAA Chapter 478 photographer, Patuxent River Naval Air Museum Docent, Friends of the St. Mary’s County Library Book Mover, and multiple Camera Clubs.