A little storm blew in just before tax day and came down upon an American bald eagle
Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 11:11PM ;)
I have fallen behind. April 15, tax day, is drawing close to its end and I have not even put up a post yet. It was a fairly eventful day for me. I went to town, had lunch with Melanie, visited with Warren Matumeak, who readers met in yesterday's post as he drummed for Suurimmaanitchuat, and his daughters; drove home, passed a Volkswagen, saw a bit of the Wasilla Tea Party rally.
But I am going to go to bed early tonight and I will wait until I get up Friday morning, April 16, and then I will blog about April 15 and try to have it up by noon, Alaska time; 4:00 PM East Coast. That means that this post will only be at the top of the page for a very short time.
In the meantime, just so the day does not end without me putting up a post, here are a few images from April 14, when a minor storm of no consequence blew in.
In the afternoon, as I headed toward Metro Cafe, I saw these kids walking through it.
;)
I then drove down and crossed the bridge over the Little Susistna River, where I saw a bald eagle sitting in a tree. I was a little irritated with myself, as this was a job that my pocket camera simply was not up to. I wondered why I couldn't keep a DSLR with a long lens in the car, just for occassions like this?
Yet, when I set out to document the world around me with a pocket camera, I know that I can never do with it what I can do with a DSLR, but the goal is to get a picture that is somewhat worthwhile anyway.
So I parked the car and decided to see how close I could get to the eagle.
In places where eagles hang out by the score and more all the time, getting close to them is no problem at all. They will practically let you walk right up to them.
But this is not such a place.
At first, I walked straight toward the eagle and it watched my every step.
Then I turned so that I was not walking directly towards it, but rather at an angle to the tree, but was still closing the distance between it and me with each step. Then I turned back, still at angle to the tree, until I reached a point where something told me that if I came any closer, the eagle would fly.
I raised my pocket camera.
;)
And the eagle flew.
Reader Comments (8)
Thank you, Bill -- the eagle pictures were lovely. There is something to enjoy every day. Thank you again!
*sigh*
I have to say that your worst eagle picture is better than my best eagle picture. I'm trying hard not to be jealous.
But I am.
I loved our little April storm. Brought almost 6" to my place. I had to drive to Chugiak to pick up my son from a retreat for deaf kids he'd been attending and when I hit Wasilla(about 11am) I was surprised to see how little snow there was.
Love the eagle shot! Had 2 eagles that were hanging around my street recently due to recent moose kill and I had a blast getting photos of them. Magnificent creatures and a wonderful symbol of our country.
Thanks for the eagle pictures! Some time in my life, I hope to see an American bald eagle in the wild. There is a nesting pair nearby here and it is said you can see them from a viewing platform in one of our metroparks, but I haven't made it over there yet.
Seeing those great birds flying and even just perching on some old tree is so inspiring.
I've seen many of them along the Mississippi river crossing on I80 between Wisconsin and Minnesota. Last year, late in the winter, we saw a large gathering of bald eagles lining the edges of the melting ice on the eastern section of the river feasting on an easy meal of fish. There is a visitor center on the Wisconsin side that also serves as a bald eagle site. A very informative and enjoyable stop along Interstate 80.
Here in Verona, NJ in a pleasant valley between two ridges of the Watchung mountains ( and yes, there is a Pleasant Valley Way leading into Verona from West Orange to the south!) there are often some red-tailed hawks, some other hawks and falcons, and the usual flights of buzzards. Often as I am walked about town by my now 15 year old Shi tsu, Rimsky, I'll get a cramp in my neck from spending so much time admiring those beautiful hawks effortlessly cruising overhead.
Faithful reader looking for Bill!! :)
Grandma Nancy - What I would really enjoy is if I could fly like that eagle. Thanks.
Debby - I'm jealous, too. Of you, popcorn and movies.
Lisa - Now I want to see your eagle pictures.
Mocha - You had better get over there and see that pair as soon as you can. Or better yet, come to Alaska, hang out anywhere on the southern coast, drift the Yukon or whereever.
Al - I would like to see those New Jersey hawks and those Mississippi eagles. I have been in New Jersey and have seen the Mississippi, but did not see a bird of prey at either.
Here I am, Michelle!
Bill, this link should take you to my eagle photos. Unfortunately the day the 2 of them were out there they didnt stay close enough for me to get any shots of them together but thats ok. I loved being able to get the shots I did.
http://johansenfamilyadventuresinthelas.shutterfly.com/1082