Portraits of a Bald Eagle 11/23/12

We spent a few days warmly celebrating Thanksgiving

with the family

 in a cabin out in the woods of Pennsylvania.
I kept a keen eye out the whole time
for a bald eagle.  

 

Just two minutes into the trip homeward, I spotted one! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Big Ol' Mountain Bash!

I couldn't resist posting a few images relating to the Fall gathering we have each year.  Not the actual festivities except for a few folks enjoying the mountaintop.  These first 7 photographs were NOT taken by me; they were shot by photographer John Bessler www.besslerphoto.com who attended and climbed the mountain, and had his 'point-and-shoot' handy. 

A few portraits.

Folks hiking back down, following their own paths.

Naturally, your bound to come across one of these on the mountain!!

"Say 'cheese!' little snake!!"

This VW van, belonging to a guest, was parked down at the bottom of our property.

Prior to the bash........

One of our cats found a very cozy lap to sit on during the preparations.

                                                   ...which later turned into 'this':

                    Playin' on Grandma's kitchen floor while she prepares food for the Bash!

A few personal touches:

              The next morning, everything was taken down and put away.  All was quiet........

 

 

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Dramatic Skies: Pre-Dawn, Dusk, and Late Afternoon

A dramatic pre-dawn sky.

 

Dramatic skies at dusk. 
The four images that follow were taken at the same location, just facing different directions.

And drama in the late-afternoon.

Three Hawks in One Afternoon + 1

I recall being sick on this particular day.  Having left work early, I took a scenic route toward home.
I'm not entirely sure, but this might be a Cooper's Hawk that I watched fly across a field.

Before I knew it, another hawk flew into sight, announcing it's presence with it's trademark screech, and the Red-Tailed Hawk landed on a utility pole.

Yet another hawk, possible the mate to the previous one, flew onto a tree in the next field over.
I walked over for a closer look.  It was a beauty!

Nature called it:

And it called back!

And took to the sky.

Flashing it's red tail as it flew.

 

 

 

 

 

 

To add one more, the next day, another hawk--this one a Red-Shouldered--was flying about at dusk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dawn Breaks Lakeside on a Cold October Day

Black Rat Snake

Crossing the road, this Black Rat Snake paused so I could get a good look at it.