Even though I often bring my camera with me on my morning walks with Ella - as anyone who reads this blog knows from what are probably too many photos of sunrise over the Rockland harbor - this past Saturday I didn't have it with me. Of course. Murphy's Law.
On that morning, we got a little later start than usual. It was warm out - about 30 degrees - and sunny and I decided to extend our walk slightly by walking down Camden Street back toward town a couple blocks before turning back toward home. We had started down Camden Street when I heard a bird whose "song" was really unfamiliar but close and loud. I started to look around for it, and heard the familiar "upset" call of gulls. Just across the street from us I noticed two gulls who were flying in small circles over the top of a large tree, squawking the whole time in protest. Near the top of the tree I saw a huge bird, the source of the unfamiliar "song." Suddenly I realized I was looking at a Bald Eagle. A minute later a crow flew into the tree and perched about 6-8 feet away from the eagle. I know how big a crow is, and this eagle was so much larger! The crow began its own "protest" call. Another crow appeared and began darting and jabbing at the eagle in the tree. At that point the gulls flew off. A minute or two passed, with the two crows continuously "protesting," one from its perch in the tree, the other darting in, darting out. Finally the eagle took off, flying over our heads where we stood across the street, and heading out toward the water. The two crows took off after it, darting at the eagle, protesting the whole way, reminding me of a couple of dogs nipping the heels of a third dog as they chased it away.
Why couldn't I have had my camera? There would have been plenty of time to photograph the eagle, even catch the crows' behavior and maybe a photo or two of the chase. Lesson learned - take my camera with me in the morning. So I had it with me this morning... but elected not to snap another photo of the ferry heading out toward Vynal Haven or the harbor water, even though in the morning sun it was glowing in shimmering silver light.
Today it was 8 degrees - feels like minus 3 - when we went out. I hear New York to Boston - which means friends in CT - are getting snow today. Not here, just cold, but sunny and beautiful.
My aging bones feel spring waiting to ... spring. Or possibly that's just wishful thinking.
Peace (in the Ukraine and everywhere).
In October 2012, I bought a 152 year old house in Rockland, Maine and moved here "from away." Now I walk to the harbor at dawn every day and wait to see what life will surprise me with next.
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