Yesterday was foggy and damp, just like so many days we’ve had this year. Flat grey skies, a hint of snow in the air, it was a typical January day.
Sounds like a perfect day to grab the camera and head out looking for something inspirational. Right?
As I was driving I thought about the eagles that have been seen out at the Veterans’ Cemetery. There’s some huge, dead trees that make perfect eagle roosts. What are the odds those eagles were sitting out there in the fog waiting for me?
Since I didn’t have any other great ideas, I headed over there, knowing they wouldn’t be there, just like they haven’t been there on multiple trips where I’ve tried to get a glimpse of them before.
As I pulled into the cemetery I saw two bumps on the trees, way across a field. I got as close as I could,, pulled up, rolled down the window and got one shot off…
….before one of the eagles flew down into the swamp. My settings weren’t right but there was no time to experiment. The second eagle was looking around, seeming to be upset to be left behind. I knew he (or she) wouldn’t stay long.
And after a bit of looking around the second eagle lifted off…
…and followed it’s partner down to the swamp.
I didn’t get great shots of the eagles. But I can’t stop smiling.
Today, while much of the rest of the United States was under various weather advisories, we had sun. It was cold, but the wind of the past few days has blasted off toward the east coast. Nineteen degrees farhrenheit (-7.22 C) and blue skies just begged for a photography adventure.
And I knew just the place.
Maybe this is the eagle!
Not far from me is a National Cemetary; I’ve taken you there before. But lately I’ve been hearing about an eagle hanging around the acres and acres of gleaming white headstones. I’ve been out there a couple times hoping to find him, but couldn’t find the nest and never saw the magnificent bird.
Since it’s so close to home, and it was a pretty day, I figured I wouldn’t be disappointed if I failed again. And you know me, I’ll always find something to take a picture of!
What about those globby shapes over in those trees?
Right near the entrance I saw a bird in the top of a dead tree. Could that be the eagle? Naw…just a big crow.
Then toward the back of the cemetary I saw a bunch of blobs high up in the trees, could those be eagles? Naw..just some clumps of leaves, maybe squirrel nests.
I wandered around some more, but saw nothing else that looked promising. Still, I wasn’t sad, it was such a pretty day…
The sun makes everything beautiful.
…and the moon was setting. I always enjoy a late setting moon.
Moon over Michigan.
And then, just as I gave up and turned the car around to go, I saw this out of the corner of my eye. Could it be?
If that’s another squirrel nest, it belongs to a really big squirrel.
I put that car in park fast and was out of it, moving as quickly as I could across the lawn, then creeping into the woods. I had to pass two signs that warned me not to trespass, hoping to get a shot before someone arrested me.
Taking a break from this year’s remodel project.
And I did. But the eagle knew exactly where I was too, walking on all that crunchy snow I sounded like a herd of elephants making my way through the woods. I only got a couple shots before he took off.
He flew in a big wide circle, and then vanished into the trees.
“Tourists! A guy can’t catch a break around here.”
I didn’t have any stellar shots…but I got to see an eagle fly.
“See ya later, lady!”
On the way home I took a different back road, and realized almost right away that it wound along the back of the cemetary. And guess what?
Well, duh. The view, with the morning sun is way better over here.
There’s a much better view of the eagle’s nest from back there!
And on the way I got to see a barn.
Red barn, white snow, blue sky. Perfect.
When I got home I was still excited about seeing the eagle and having such a good time with the camera on such a pretty day. And I’ve heard there’s an eagle out at Kensington, my favorite park.
That’s not so far away either. The sun is still shining.
Too pretty a day to spend inside.
Should I head out there? What are the odds that I’ll find an eagle just sitting around waiting for me to discover him?
What are the odds?
Guess you’ll have to wait and see.
Eagle or no eagle, always good to stop by this place.
Change Is Hard 