Saturday, July 16, 2011

Cat and Mouse... or... Deirdre and the eagle

I saw him the first day of our vacation.  He flew by with a fish in his talons.  I was too awestruck to do anything other than stare, despite that camera sitting two inches from my hand.

I scoured the skies every day I sat on the beach.  Nothing.

The next time I saw him was Friday.  Samson and I had been sitting on the beach, under the umbrella, all afternoon.  I took a few minutes to romp in the water.  I looked up and he flew by.  Right across my beach.  I silently cursed his timing.  Argh.  I was 200 feet from my camera. I took Samson up to the house and he flew by again.  Argh, I had the wrong lens.   I stuck my telephoto lens on my D300 and then I saw him.  Flew right by me.  Wrong lens again.   He looked like this.

From Eagle

I was kicking myself.  Why would the eagle fly RIGHT BY ME when I have the telephoto lens? ARGH...So I gave up.  I saw a beautiful freighter and took my D80 with a smaller telephoto lens to take a few happy snaps.  I got down to the beach and I turned around to survey the trees, as I had done for the last two weeks.  And there he was.  I couldn't believe that I could see him in the trees.  His white head stuck out in the green pine. For a few seconds all I could do was stare.   I gently set down my beach bag and picked up my camera.  And started clicking.  A few pics.  A few steps toward him.  A few more pics.  A few more steps toward him.  I was shaking. He is so beautiful.  Here is what I got.

From Eagle

From Eagle

From Eagle

From Eagle

As I got right under him, he took off.
From Eagle

From Eagle

From Eagle

From Eagle

Oh my goodness, he was stunning. I didn't even see his wings move as he left the tree perch. What a way to end my vacation. Nothing but awe and wonder right here just east of the equator.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pictures. Good things come to those who wait. Eh!

Gary