For the Birds

It's day two of the annual Backyard Bird Count. It is such a wonderful opportunity for taking a few minutes and relaxing with the beauty that surrounds.

Here at Wren House we have a bird's eye view of wonder most every day. These Great White Egrets being snapped yesterday back in the cove on Lake Smith.

It's cold here in Virginia after a few days of balmy and when the temp drops the cove becomes a haven for Cormorants, Hooded Mergansers, Egrets and Heron.

This week there has been the thrill of an added bonus ...for the past three nights a Bald Eagle has been roosting on a dead but sturdy Loblolly pine limb that hangs high over the water .

Here's a link for the Bald Eagle nest at the Norfolk Botanical Garden 5 miles from my home

Fire in the Belly

Yesterday I walked in the marsh land in our glorious First Landing State Park with my artist friend and walkin' buddy, 'Debster'. We made our destination a high forested dune about two miles in from the trailhead. Once there we lay in the warmth of the sunshine enjoying the long views of the sparkle and dazzle of the Lynnhaven River .

In the near distance I listen to the unmistakeable high pitched call of Bald Eagle.

Following our break we wind our way down the steep sandy path and enter into the marshy lowland. Here the landscape is arresting as it is populated with dozens of stately skeletal remains of long ago flooded trees. Picture a forest of smooth (the bark has long since fallen away) and contorted Giacometti-like scuptures standing in the shallow marsh-lake.

In one of the tallest of tree totems we notice movement and stop. Now we are transfixed as we witness a pair of Bald Eagles copulating. When done they vigorously shake their feathers, hop each to their own branch, throw their heads back, beaks pointing toward the sky and in unison laugh long and long. Then they become completely quiet, stately, grand and still.

We are able to move along the path observing them within closer and closer range until, giddy with delight and the magic of the moment we finally turn and beam back along the river path each of us filled with a fire of enthusiasm, joy and love of life burning in the belly.