March 2019 SOLC–Day 30
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This morning I swung down by the river to catch the sunrise. As I pulled into my parking space, a juvenile bald eagle flew right before me. I thrust the car in park and grappled for my camera, hoping to catch a quick shot. I didn’t realize yet that the hour ahead would be full of such opportunities.
Quick! Take a pic! It’s an eagle!
I noticed my friend, Roger, was already at the water’s edge snapping photos. I took a few pictures and then wandered over to join him. Last weekend I’d seen him, but I’d been in a total stress zone. The river magic hadn’t worked on me. This weekend Mother Nature was pulling out all the stops, and together, we were a rapt audience.
We took picture after picture, delighting in the beauty unfolding around us. I went back and forth between gawking and wildly swinging my camera around trying to capture the cauldron of activity. The seagulls were back, ducks flew, floated and fished, and eagles swooped by periodically. The air was filled with song, and bird after bird made an appearance–cardinals, red-winged blackbirds, pigeons, hooded and common mergansers, grackles, robins and more. The fish were jumping, and the river ice had receded dramatically, bringing back those intoxicating reflections. I could have spent hours watching bird shadows swimming amidst reflected clouds. Add the rising sun to the mix, and it was intoxicating. An ambrosial springtime brew!
Hard to catch a sharp photo when everything’s moving!
Hooded mergansers coming in for a landing
Seagull at sunrise
Incoming! (This one cracks me up!)
Swimming bird reflections
After sunrise, the sun still puts on a show
juvenile bald eagle
Nix the comfort zone 