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Sunday, March 21, 2010

Where Do I Begin?

Where do I begin!!! So many things happened to me, and Ive been so many places the past few days that I just don't know where to start. I discovered two new nature parks; one was huge, and one was surrounded an urban setting. I've met people, seen fascinating animals, and beautiful scenery. And I feel so overwhelmed by it all that I have to sort it all out in my head before I tell you about it.

The one thing I want to tell you about is something I didn't get on camera, and I feel like kicking myself for it! It was in the middle of the evening, and the last wonder I saw so far. I took a short drive over to Heritage Park, the place where I showed you the hawk circling over my head. I didn't take my camera because I was only planning a quick drive through the front of the park.

But as soon as I turned into the main road there, I saw what I thought was another even bigger hawk flying around very low! I knew I should have brought my camera! Honestly, I wouldn't have been able to get the pictures or video from my truck anyway. I wondered why it was flying low, and later on that little drive I found out why!

I drove up to where the barn is, and as I was coming back out, I saw what looked like a huge, dark bird standing in front of one of the buildings! The first image that came to my mind was it was dark like a cormorant, but this one was a bird of prey. I looked a little more closely, and I began to think it might be a very big black cat, but it was too big. Like I said before, it was the middle of the evening, but it wasn't really dark yet. I looked again, and I knew that this was no cat!

I thought maybe it was the hawk, but it was bigger than even a red-tailed hawk. I have checked and checked as many pictures as I can find, and I'm now convinced that this bird was a juvenile bald eagle! I watched from my truck as this huge bird devoured its prey. The eagle was eating a squirrel. The squirrel looked tiny compared to this gigantic bird.

This looks just like the bird I saw. It is a juvenile bald eagle.You can find the original picture here.
Maybe this bird was an eagle. I don't know if eagles live around here or not, but this really was one huge bird! I saw the squirrel a couple of times because the bird lifted it up a few times as if it were going to fly it away to somewhere else. The bird was nervous because of my presence, and it kept looking over at me. This bird was so big that it was scary, and it was less than twenty feet away from me!

All I can think right now is... Oh my lord! An eagle! A real eagle!!

I finally decided to leave it to its meal, especially since I didn't have my camera anyway. I may have just seen the only eagle I will ever see in my life, but I didn't have my camera! Stupid, stupid, stupid! This should tell you to always take your camera with you!!!

The funny thing is that the eagle, which I originally thought was a hawk, may not even have been the most amazing sight I saw today! The past few days have been a full tilt flurry of sights and sounds, events and places. I saw action, drama, comedy, and anything else you might imagine. How about something as strange as cave drawings? Yup, I saw them!

Here's just a hint of one of the major events...

These two geese are watching something! I know what it is, but I'm not going to tell you yet. Why would they be doing something so strange? Find out in the upcoming days!

What is this creature in this last picture? Is it even real? Maybe it's only a stuffed animal. Is it a squirrel? Maybe it's a puppy. It could be a fox. Surely not a cat. What if it's a bear cub? I'm not going to tell you right now, although you're perfectly free to guess. When I tell you the whole story you are going to be utterly amazed!!!

AND I SAW AN EAGLE!!!!!

That's all I can write for now. My mind is a whirlwind of thoughts and memories, and I feel as if it might explode!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

17 comments:

  1. What an exciting time you've been having. I hate that when I don't remember to take my camera with me. We do have eagle in our area. A friend of mine pointed out a spot where she always sees them but I have yet to spot one there. I did see one on my way home one day as I was driving down the road. I'm lucky I didn't wreck the car trying to get a better look :) Can't wait to hear about the new adventures.

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  2. You've an overdose of nature, Ratty, but sounds so exciting. Is it a baby squirrel in the last picture?

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  3. I felt the VERY same way the first time I saw an Eagle, Ratty and when I saw a moose (and didn't have my camera that time, remember???) I am so happy for you!!! Isn't it great? Sometimes I can't even sleep after I see some new wildlife out there and am lucky enough to capture it on camera.....I am glad you are finding such joy out there!

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  4. You are very cruel to give us all these little tidbits of information and not give the details...you better tell us soon Ratty!!!!!

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  5. My mind is always in a mess when I am too happy and overwhelmed by wonders.

    I think you are now in this state of mind.

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  6. This is exactly the type of naturally found excitement I live to teach for...not only to my preschoolers, but to their FAMILIES as well. This appreciation is the key to living well...keep living well, Ratty!

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  7. Eagle is always a beautiful thing to watch. By the way, I am more curious about the lump of furry thing on your last photo.. definitely not squirrel.. the head quite big and round.. Don't tell me you didn't wait there and shoot Ratty?

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  8. Is that a weasel?? It doesn't look like an otter too much, so I'm going with weasel.

    We don't have eagles here in the city, but they winter by the Mississippi where my husband grew up. They are something to see!

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  9. That sure is exciting to see an eagle. I don't think it is a squirrel either. That looks like baby fur to me or a cat. Can't wait to find out what it is.

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  10. Eagles are amazing with their size alone. I know how you feel! Congrats on your first eagle sighting.

    I think that small brown animal looks weasley... Cant wait to see what he really is.

    Bye for now!

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  11. You are such a tease Ratty, I love it. You have been busy. I think that last photo is a squirrel or at least he looks like one. We have eagles here in our zoo though it's difficult to get photos because he is always in the trees. They are pretty cool to see in person. I can't wait for the upcoming stories.

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  12. I want to know!!! What is it? What?! I've never been the most patient person (shocking, I know)and now you are making me wait...sigh.

    The pictures, as always, are incredible. Can't wait to see more :-)

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  13. It looks like a long tailed weasel, but I could be wrong. It's so fluffy, I have no idea.

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  14. All will soon be revealed about this mysterious little creature.

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  15. I can't wait to find out more about your adventures! And I too think that little brown creature might be a weasel.

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  16. No one seems to have guessed! You are very lucky indeed to see one out in the open and not dead. It's a lovely mink! Now I'll go read today's post and see if I'm right (but it's really the only choice). Sorry I missed you yesterday.

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  17. Wow! Seeing an eagle is amazing. Lucky you Ratty!! That little bundle of fur looks just like a Mink. My brother used to raise them. Stinky little critters but cute.

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