Mood:  bright

Well I just got back from the Mid Winter Eagle Count and guess what? I finally saw an eagle. 

I arrived at my observation point which was on the Cheek Road Bridge at 6:45 AM.I was lucky I had approached the bridge from the right direction because I was able to pull up close to the side and had a clear view of both sides of the lake. It was still dark but the full moon glistening off the lake provided me enough light to get my bearings and to find the box of donuts I had stashed on the floor (plain donuts so as not to hinder my diet), The count didn’t start till 7 so I had some time to drink my coffee and start filing out my paperwork. Sky...still too dark to tell but looks clear. Wind....well the trees seem to be moving a little so I will write light. Precipitation.....none. Temperature....FREAKIN COLD!

I complain every year about doing this event because I have to get up early on my day off and it is usually cold but it is an amazing experience to be there and watch as nature starts the process of waking up. The moon by now had turned to gold and was just about to meet the horizon on the lake. To the East the sun was just starting to rise so the sky was a lovely shade of pink. I glanced back at the moon just in time to see a group of Canada geese skim the surface of the water in the moon’s reflection. The world had awoken. A quick glance at my watch confirmed it was now 7 and was time for me to start scanning the sky. 

I opened the car door and I was suddenly hit with a wall of freezing cold air. I zipped up my jacket, turned on my Ipod so something peacefully. Claire de Lune was just perfect music for a sunrise. I put on my gloves and my ear muffs and then last but not least, grabbed my binoculars and headed out onto the bridge. It was so quiet except for the occasional sound of gunfire from some far away hunters to the West. I scanned to the skies to the West and stopped at the Hickory Hill Boat Ramp. I could just barely make out the figure of one of the other rangers standing on the shore line. A quick wave but nothing in return. Most not see me or she is doing what I am supposed to be doing which is searching the sky. 

I turned to headed over to the eastern side of the bridge and scanned the sky and the shoreline in that direction. Nothing much to report except for s large flock of gulls and a lone great blue heron sitting on a sandbar. I stood out there watching the sun come up, until my poor fingers couldn’t take it anymore. I headed back to the car to warm up a bit and perhaps grab another donut. Little black capped chickadees were playing in the sweet gum tree beside my car and I giggled as they fought over a seed pulled from the only sweet gum ball still hanging from the branches. I put my gloves back on and opened the car door and threw them a few crumbs from my donuts. They quickly scooped it up and flew off. 

It was now about 7:30 and I headed back over the side of bridge. This time I hopped over the guardrail and followed the little path down to the shore line. I put my binoculars up to my eyes and scanned the sky once more. Seagull.....another seagull....Canada geese...Heron....some ducks....some more gulls....heron...wait was that a heron? I quickly back tracked to the place I thought I had seen the heron. Where did it go? Herons are large and hard to miss. Then I saw it circling close to the water. It wasn’t acting like a heron...maybe it was a cormorant. The cold had me shaking so badly that it was hard to keep the binoculars still. I took a deep breath and forced my body to hold still and my eyes focused just in time to see the bird turn. Then I saw that unmistakable sign...a bright yellow beak. My heart jumped as I continued to try to keep my eyes focused. It turned again and slanted its body towards me. It was an immature adult and had just a few patches of white at the base of the head and mixed into the tail.  I suddenly became all giddy like a kid on Christmas morning. I had completely forgotten about the cold as I tried hard to follow the eagle through my binoculars. Because it was mostly brown I would lose it from time to time in the tree line but then I would catch site of it again when it would turn and skim the surface of the water. When it finally had enough of entertaining the strange girl standing on the bridge, it took off to the West and disappeared completely over the tree line. I watched intently, hoping it would resurface but by now my body could take no more of the cold and begged me to get back inside the car where it was warm. 

I sat in the car and filled out what I had just observe. Looking at my sheet I realize now I will have to rewrite it Monday because I was shaking so bad you can’t read what I wrote. I ventured outside the car a few more times hoping I would see the eagle again but 8:30 came quickly and it was time to pack up and head home. 

I am still all giddy and excited and I can’t wait to get to work so I can share my news with the other rangers. We found out last week that the state ranger found two new nests this year bringing our nesting pairs up to 6. It is to be hoped that the bird I saw today will find a female this year and come next winter I will see it grown and possibly starting a family. 

Well I am off to take an extremely hot shower so I can warm up a bit but just wanted to share my news. I hope everyone is having a great weekend and I will catch up with you all next week.