Eagle Eye......

(click on these pictures)

Ever been given the "eagle eye"?....as opposed to the "evil eye"???

I don't think I ever have - until yesterday, that is.

When husband and I were fishing at the Narrows in what is now known as "Eagle Bay", I saw a dark lump on a fir tree. I wouldn't have thought anything of it except that for a few seconds I thought I saw it actually move. I kept my eyes peeled on this "lump", saying to husband "did you see something move on that tree over there?" I was pointing in the direction of several hundred trees that lined the bay (middle picture).

I knew the fledgling eagle was in that direction as we had heard him give his clothesline squeak. Very distinctive. Each time I heard him, I glanced over in that direction but I could see nothing but trees. The boat drifted further toward his sound. I had to face into the sun so nothing was visible. Then a few clouds rolled in. That's when I saw something that I knew didn't belong on the branch of a fir tree (close to the left side of the second picture there are two poplars sticking up and a large fir tree to the left of them....that is where the sound was coming from).

"Bring her into the weeds a bit more," says I, camera on the ready.

Husband started up the motor, put it in gear and headed for the reeds....and the shoreline of trees beyond (second picture shows the reed bed in the distance). Closer and closer we approached the trees. I looked up at the dark mass on the limb and put the old Olympus to my searching left eye. I zoo00000000med in.

There he sat, still as an eagle playing Freeze Tag.

I started shooting. Click. Click. Click.

The sun had come out. I couldn't see a thing. I pointed the camera towards what I figured was his outline and snapped away, attempting to get closer in the process. We didn't want the boat to get bogged down in the reeds so we didn't dare get any further in. The manner in which his wings were outstretched made me think he was drying them. He did look wet. Could he have fallen (or dove a little too far) into the lake while attempting a fish run?? All speculation of course, but quite probable.

Bringing home these photos, as I downloaded them, I began to laugh and laugh....and laugh.

I couldn't really see his face while taking the pictures. But look in picture #3, at the look he was giving me!!! If I had seen him give me that look, I think I may have taken off out of there in a shot!! Ignorance is bliss.....and I got this picture.

The first picture shows him pretty well but click on the picture and notice in the top left corner. Two eagles flying high above him in the greyness of sky.....mom and dad, watching out for their beloved youngin'.

Yes, we watch out for our kids, don't we....whether they're flyin' high or fallin' in the lake.

Eagles are no exception...