Bald eagle surveying Lake Champlain near Essex, New York.
While returning to Essex from Elizabethtown this afternoon I spied this handsome bald eagle perched 20 to 30 feet above Whallons Bay. He was surveying the glass-flat, frigid (37° isn’t quite freezing, but it’s not far off) waters of Lake Champlain, head pivoting jerkily. Although he never took flight, never plunged down to grab a lake trout or a salmon, I’m pretty certain he was hunting for his supper. Or posing for passersby.
The photo above and the video below were shot on my iPhone, so they’re grainy and don’t fairly capture the regal raptor. But they’re better than a flock of letters, “You wouldn’t believe the bald eagle I watched this afternoon…”
Bald Eagle Back Story
If you’re intrigued by bald eagles, you may enjoy a few of my earlier posts that showcase our local population of bald eagles (or semi-subtly incorporate “bald eagle cameos”). I suggest you start with these:
And next time you’re in the neighborhood, tilt you head back. You just might catch sight of an alabaster hooded, yellow beaked, ferocious-taloned bald eagle. Good luck!
In recent years December has given us our first real blast of winter. A premature blast usually because early December snows have usually melted by Christmas…
December 2014 Raptors
Early in December 2014 I walked Rosslyn’s woods and meadows to make sure our cross-country ski trails were clear of trees and brush. The good news was that with a little maintenance everything was ready for our first snowfall.
[pullquote]Perhaps you can help identify the hawk and owl species?[/pullquote]
The even better news was that I encountered two handsome raptors at close range. Near the beginning of my walk a hawk allowed me to approach and photograph him from directly beneath the limb where he sat. Later in the afternoon an owl was no more than fifteen feet from me when I spied him. He too sat patiently and allowed me to snap photos. Unfortunately the camera in my mobile phone offers only a hint of the grandeur of this birds of prey.
Perhaps you can help identify the hawk and owl species?
Enormous hawk hunting in Rosslyn’s back meadows.
Enormous hawk hunting in Rosslyn’s back meadows.
Owl perched quietly in Rosslyn’s Hickory Hillock.
Owl perched quietly in Rosslyn’s Hickory Hillock.
December 2014 Snow
And then the snow arrived. On the 10th of December 2014 we had our first real taste of collecting snow (as opposed to flurries that melt once they land.)
Another curious happening. The Essex-Charlotte ferry seemed to have stalled in front of Rosslyn boathouse. (Can you spot it in the photos?) It drifted for an eerily long time, so close to the boathouse that I grew concerned. At last it managed to rumble off to the Essex ferry dock.
Essex-Charlotte ferry adrift perilously close to Rosslyn boathouse on 10 December 2014.
Essex-Charlotte ferry adrift perilously close to Rosslyn boathouse on 10 December 2014.
Snow, Snow, Snow: 10 December 2014
Once the snowflakes ceased to fall Rosslyn had been blanketed in over a foot of beautiful snow. Beautiful but super moist and heavy. Unfortunately what looks picturesque in the black and white photo below turned out to be bad news for many of our trees.
Winter started out with a deep, heavy, wet snowfall in early December 2014.
The photographs below tell the less picturesque story of what happens when lots of heavy, wet snow collects. Pretty. But potentially devastating.
Winter started out with a deep, heavy, wet snowfall in early December 2014.
Winter started out with a deep, heavy, wet snowfall in early December 2014 that buried the grill.
Many of our trees were damaged during the early December 2014 snowfall.
Many of our trees were damaged during the early December 2014 snowfall.
Many of our trees were damaged during the early December 2014 snowfall.
Many of our trees were damaged during the early December 2014 snowfall.
But no sense closing on a down note. Instead I’ll wrap up with this wonderful snapshot of Griffin saying goodbye to his snowy home before setting off on a Christmas road trip. Griffin loves snow!
