Thursday, March 14, 2013

Eagle Update

The brain fog persists, but I'm persevering. Some good news: my daughter signed closing papers yesterday on her first home in Portland, OR! When I visit in May I will have a place to stay, but most importantly, I am extremely proud of my girl. She's waited a very long time for this, so we are all rejoicing with her. Love you, sweet girl!

Yesterday was also my session with Sister Cynthia. As I pulled into the parking space it was announced that the new pope had been selected. When I entered the building, everyone was filled with excitement. Too bad I felt left out, but I was happy for those celebrating.

Afterwards, I went to the levee to check on the eaglets. They are growing so fast! One of the eaglets took a test flight with a parent which I photographed, not realizing it at the time. The other eaglet pointed his booty at me and squirted a big poop in my direction! Thank goodness they are several hundred feet away. Looks like they will be leaving the nest soon.

I'm fairly certain this is the parent in the back and baby in the front.

How am I doin' mama?

You're going great, Junior! Now look ahead so you don't run into a tree!

The little song sparrow paid me a visit while I was watching the eagles. He's quite a ham.
A few backyard shots:
Female brown-headed cowbird. 

Male brown-headed cowbird

Male house finch

Sister Cynthia picked my blessing from her special book:

May God, the PHYSICIAN bless you, bringing you to wholeness and health. When you become aware of rupture or fracture in your life, may you experience the healing hand of God laid upon you and the curative power of God's love and forgiveness coursing through your veins. With and through the same touch, may you become healer for the brokenness of our world. May God the PHYSICIAN bless you.

Today and tomorrow I am working for my old boss from home, so I'll catch up when possible. Y'all have a great day and weekend!

I am linking up for the first time to Skywatch Friday! Thank you to the hosts!!!

65 comments:

Anonymous said...

What fantastic eagle shots! That sparrow is so pretty too.

Stephanie said...

Hi sweet Gail,

I am finally back to blogging and it's so wonderful to visit you again and see your beautiful photos :) The Eagle's are amazing!

I hope you are doing well - congrats to your daughter for buying her new home.

Love and hugs,
Stephanie

hootnonny said...

Hi Gail, Fog seems to be a universal problem. How awesome to capture the flying family.

Best wishes to your girl with her new home.

Karen said...

Oh, those eagle shots are marvellous. Glad you didn't get pooped on! Love the little finch.

Kathy said...

What fun to see that flight training session!

Buttons Thoughts said...

Sister Cynthia is wise in her choice of blessings.
Congratulations to your daughter I have no doubt you will be photographing in Portland:)
Love your photos Please take care. Hug B

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Love those shots - especially the eagle and the beautiful finch. I love finches.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Those eagle shots are incredible. They look so glorious. Congrats to your daughter!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Once again you got some great shots. The Eagles are amazing.

Nancy said...

Those shots of the eagles are just awesome..Seeing a mom with her child must have taken your breath away.......

I love the blessing you received. We all need those...

Last but not least, congratulations to your daughter on her new home...Today you gave us news of a mother teaching her child to fly and another mom proud of her daughter's accomplishments...both very wonderful moms....

TexWisGirl said...

yay for the work from home! i had that gig for a few months and loved it! then my company decided to sell out to a competitor. *sigh*

love the eaglet test flight!

Unknown said...

Amazing shots as usual! Had to chuckle at your commentary!

Kerry said...

Coincidentally I've been scanning real estate in Portland for my son & DIL, who plan to move back later this year. (They just need to find a job there first...) I wonder if your daughter bought something I looked at! That's so exciting.

I LOVE these eagle pics. OMG, a parent and baby! That's a prize-winner.

Curious coincidence to be there with the Sister right when the new pope was announced.

Anonymous said...

Look at those beautiful Eagles, birdies & blue skies! =)

Chatty Crone said...

Those eagles fly so amazingly with their wing spans out so wide! sandie

Tara R. said...

Wonderful capture on the eagles in flight.


(visiting via SkyWatch)

Karen said...

Great shots, love the eagle on the first.

Anonymous said...

I was working yesterday and barely at home, so I didn't even know a new Pope had been chosen until late in the evening. Saying prayers for him. He'll have his hands full! Love these photos - especially the one of Junior flying! Thanks for not sharing a photo of the poop! Little stinker. lol

Liz said...

Beautiful photos. Happy sky watching.

My sky.

Randi said...

These are stunning photos!!! Amazing!

Merisi said...

Amazing images, love them all!
Happy Sky Watch,
Merisi

HansHB said...

Great serie og photos.
Perfect post for SWF!

Steffi said...

Very beautiful photos for SWF!Thank you for it and have a nice weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Awesome captures of the eagles! A wonderful series! Have a great weekend and Happy Skywatching!

islandwonder said...

Yeah! Love the Eagles shots!

Nina said...

A beautiful blessing! And the birds- the finch and the sparrow, and the mighty eagle ... Just wonderful!

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

The shots of the parent and juvenile flying together are just spectacular. I could almost feel the anxiety passing between them. It must be a little like human parents putting their child behind the wheel of a car for the first time.

the wild magnolia said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
the wild magnolia said...

All the photos are beautiful to see, something sacred captured and stilled for our delight.

The top photo, the young eagle, one of the best I've seen.

the wild magnolia said...

All the photos are beautiful to see, something sacred captured and stilled for our delight.

The top photo, the young eagle, one of the best I've seen.

Heather said...

Great eagle shots--especially like the second one, and the one of the sparrow.

Anuradha Shankar said...

wonderful captures, esp the second one! have a grt weekend!

renae said...

OMyGosh Gail. Those EAGLES are gorgeous. Your other photos ain't half bad n'ither! Wow. Thank you for getting the Eagles that I LOVE!!!! (hug)

Anonymous said...

Can I come and be your side kick -- your photo are breath taking stunning -- I bet I would a whole lot -- Love coming here..
Hugs

desi Traveler said...

What beautiful shots...full of action

Stewart M said...

This is a nice post - I love the eagle shots.

I'm glad that people find the election of a new Pope to be a source of celebration - but its not part of my world. One day we will be happy when everybody has clean water and enough to eat.

The male kestrels with blue wings are a different species to mine.

Cheers and thanks for linking the hummers to WBW

Stewart M - Melbourne

Rosemary Aubut said...

Great photos Gail! Love mama teaching her young as you have done with your dear daughter! Congrats to her on her new home!

beth said...

your photos give me hope that our spring will arrive....right now it's looking a bit hopeless, but i will move upward and onward :)

Cindy said...

The Eagles are magnificent and the baby flying is so cute. All the photos are beautiful but I especially love the little Song Sparrow.

Justine said...

oh those gorgeous colours, that stunning blue sky, all fantastic and you are so lucky having all these birds on your doorstep

Phil Slade said...

Those are great shots of the Baldies Gail. It certainly looks like the parent bird is going on the flight to make sure baby is managing OK. Like you say the youngsters will fledge properly soon but it will be interesting to see how long they stay around until ma and pa send them off into the big wide world.

renae said...

You are welcomed! Tamar is amazing huh? I was hoping you two could be friends.

Anonymous said...

Great shots of those eagles!

Deanna said...

Does the brain fog need medical attention? or is this something that will pass? I am a little worried about you, I know this has been a difficult year and now with your sadness at being separated from the Catholic religion...you know that your faith is in your heart and is between you and the Lord. Your belief's will not change with or without that piece of paper. Do you really think God cares whether you have filled out papers or paid a fee, he only cares what is in your heart.

EG CameraGirl said...

I'd be terribly excited to see the eaglet in flight! And I also love the photo of the song sparrow.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Fabulous pictures; I can't believe you got that fledgling flight shot by accident...how amazing!! You have such good bird karma!!! People have been lining up three deep at our local nest hoping to see that. So far I don't think anyone has...they fly up to the branches and that's about all.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I forgot to say congrats to your daughter! That's a big step and I know how proud you must be of her.

Amy Burzese said...

Great eagle shots! I love to see them flying. Congrats to your daughter. That's a big step. Take lots of photos when you are there. Hang tough with your worries and you will come through.

A Creative Grace said...

That is a great achievement for your daughter :) and the eagles are amazing, flying lessons! The blessing is a powerful one, thank you so much for sharing it :)

Lisa Gordon said...

These are wonderful shots, Gail, and a very big congratulations to your daughter. What an exciting time!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Patrice said...

How exciting that you were in the right place at the right time, Gail!

Anonymous said...

It poops in your geneerile deerection! :-) Too funny! Congrats to your daughter, that's quite an accomplishment these days!

nature ramblings said...

Beautiful shots. Portland is a lovely town. I live in Ashland Oregon and love to visit Portland. Have a great Friday.

Laura Delegal - Leroy Photography said...

Congrats to your daughter. I guess she's flying on her own too. Beautiful shots.

Evelyn S. said...

I know I asked once about your daughter's Portland neighborhood...and I've forgotten. Our Portland connection--our youngest son--is getting married Aug. 18. Finally!! As for your eagle images: they are so wonderful! I know the southern Bald Eagles must be ahead of the northern ones as far as nesting. (Did you know that eagles don't get their white heads, etc. for 4-5 years?)

Richard Pegler said...

How wonderful to have the eagles close to you, and to be able to observe the youngsters growing up and fledging.

Congratulations to your daughter. One of life's milestones!

Sally in WA said...

Wonderful eagle shots! And congrats on your daughter's first home purchase. :-)

rainfield61 said...

Hope that you are having a good work and day, with these beautiful feathered friends around.

Reena said...

Love those eagle shots! Awesome!

Rosie Grey said...

I do hope you feel better and the brain fog has lifted! And, please don't feel left out - I know it's always easier said than done! But it's your faith that's counting not how some priest is behaving.
As to your photos - they are just stunning! It's so amazing how you catch those precious moments with your camera! I couldn't take a decent bird photo, even if my life depended upon it!
Have a wonderful weekend and be nice to yourself ;-)

Unknown said...

So many fabulous photos my friend. I know I have said this before but I will never get tired of seeing your bird photos. You sure do have a gift at capturing them.

My daughter lives in Portland as well, we wont be up there until mid October for a visit.

I do hope you find a little peace in the blessing that Sister Cynthia gave you.. Your really deserve it.

Hugs~

Tammy@Simple Southern Happiness said...

Life seems to march on despite my lack of computer time due to packing and de-junking and getting ready for our move.

I pray you GOD will keep you and lift you out of your fog.

Congrats on the new house for your and have a safe trip to see her in May.

Looks like Spring as come to your part of the world. I hope its not too far off where we are.

GOD keep you safe and uplifted.

Hootin Anni said...

Okay...these are INCREDIBLE!!! I am in awe.

Hilary said...

You take the most wonderful bird photos, Gail. I am always in awe.

Anonymous said...

The parent eagle looks like she is giving the youngster encouragement while flying. Nice photographs. Also enjoyed the other pictures. The cowbird reminds me so much of one I recently posted.