chapter 423

4/3/2016

The Eagle Has Landed

lifelong dream

my Bald Eagle video

my Nesting Video (preliminary owl & heron)

Forty-eight years ago I painted this watercolor. Had NO idea I'd actually be seeing them routinely in this life. Very nice. Grandpa made the frame for me. I know he is also watching. Was passing by the end of the reservoir I live on and noticed a youngish maybe 4 or 5 year old eagle looking for fish. Did the video just for kicks. Although crude by pro standards I think it's darned good for just a simple point and shoot cam. The goal is to video heron babies in the nest. Mother birds' instincts and patience on the nest are remarkable. The owl will sit there over a month. Think about it. Had just been up to my favorite heron rookery but nothing there this year. We believe the eagles ate some of that community and scared the rest away for the time being. Testing video at Ballston Creek Preserve for 

At the rookery mentioned there was an abundance of these Hooded Mergansers. Male on left and female following. 

Ah, the beauty is fulfilling. Squinting at the LCD screen on the camera to frame the action among all the tree obstacles was a challenge. Took a bunch of shots on burst mode; no time to patiently compose the shot. Just hope for a lucky capture.

The Wood Ducks were there too. Male leading, female following. Nature's way. The lighting is great at this spot with the trees and colors making nice reflections 125 yards across the pond.

On they way home I ran into Gordon Ellmers again by chance. His photos are awesome. I retouched last week's shot in the Nik photo software. Google bought it and made it available free online. Used to cost several hundred dollars. 

A different Nik touch, but in morning light.

.