I walk from my house to Bethany Lake, west of Portland Oregon, on many days. The Lake is adjacent to a wide utility easement, a golf course, a park, and farmland, so there is considerable open water, undeveloped area, and large trees.
All that space, and open water, and lots of fish and ducks, and good nesting sites, have attracted eagles. They nest a mile to the north of the Lake. They sit many days in one of the tallest lakeside trees, from which they can watch the Lake, and their nest.
Mostly this last week I only saw a single eagle, but yesterday they both were in the Eagle Tree. Sometimes I can see them from far away, the white of their head feathers seems to flash like a beacon when the sun is behind me.
Seeing two eagles pretty much makes the walk worth it. Nonetheless, I persisted.
The local heron rewarded me with a long look, posing as still as a street mime for over an hour. I always wonder if this is the same heron that visits my back yard. I’ve seen it take off from the lake and fly towards my house, but it wasn’t there when I returned home. I see it fly from my yard back towards the lake, but haven’t seen it land. It’s less than a mile the way the heron flies.
Later I saw it in a dead tree, moving upstream, away from my house.
The Canadian Geese have arrived by the hundreds. Neighboring farmers put out phony Bald Eagle decoys to spook away the geese from the planted fields.
The golf course has two of the happiest dogs on earth, whose job is to chase and bark at geese all day. How they love their work.
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What have you noted in your area or travels? Any stealthy critters in your yard? Please post your observations and general location in your comments. I’ll check back by lunchtime.
/s/ Redwoodman
