Must Return to this Place

Today I went to a location in the city near a water treatment station where the warm run-off attracts various birds in the winter. I had  also heard that  an eagle or even two were spotted in the area a month ago. What were my chances?

I was amazed by the presence of hundreds of mallards floating downstream then flying up the river, over and over. A friendly passerby pointed out to me that this is how they search for food. There was a lot of open water for this time of year even with the warm run-off and I took time to watch them and listen to hundreds of wing beats and swoosh as they hit the water. A couple of dogs approached me with great enthusiasm and I obliged then by throwing the sticks that they carried in their mouth…instant friendship!

After taking images of some plants, watching the ducks and watching the sky I noticed a possible raptor flying very high. I encouraged it in my mind to come closer, and it did. It took a couple of sweeps up and down the river sending the ducks in flight for their lives before it returned to higher hatmospheres. I missed getting a shot of what I recognised as a first-year Bald Eagle other than  a sloppy shot of a ghost image amongst the scattering ducks -did manage to get a long-distance  shot. My sloppy shots are included here because I was so excited and  promised myself to return to this place to face my new challenge-get closer and get more.

Jane Chesebrough

Jane Chesebrough