(un)seasonal(?) surprises

Probably the season, and the unsettled weather, had a lot to do with the number and kinds of wildlife we saw this morning as we drove to pick up a share box from our autumn Community Supported Agriculture farm. Several flocks of Canada geese traced their way high across the cloudy sky, looking for newly harvested fields that needed gleaning. Three whitetail deer were picking their way through what, a couple of weeks ago, was a soy bean field. Numerous flocks of migrating songbirds arose from roadside or fields' edge as we passed by, but the most astonishing of all we saw is what we've come to think was a family of bald eagles all perched, briefly, in the same tree.

When we first noticed them, we could view one obvious bald eagle (white head and tail) and what looked to be a larger bird that lacked the characteristic head and tail coloring. Could it be a golden eagle? There are several reports of golden eagles being observed in eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin, especially at this time of year.

3 of 4 camera-shy eagles

Photo by J. Harrington

As we slowly drove past the tree holding the birds, we saw a second bald eagle, about the same size as the first, that also appeared slightly smaller than the all brownish one. While trying to get a picture, a fourth bird soared in. This one matched the coloring and size of the larger, brown bird. So, did we now have a pair of bald eagles and a pair of golden eagles or, was it a pair of adult eagles with their larger juveniles, a family of four? We'll never know for sure but, after doing some quick on-line research, we're leaning toward four of a kind rather than two pair.

snow showers: preview of coming attractions?

Photo by J. Harrington

As we drove home, snow flakes began to fall. For half an hour or so it felt as if we were inside one of those old-fashioned snow globes. The flakes were large and fell very slowly against a backdrop of varied colors of leaves still on the trees: bronze, brass, copper and gold. As we write this, the morning snow has melted and mid-day graupel is down-bursting. These previews of coming "attractions" briefly lent a magical patina to this morning's array of seeing some neighbors.

Eagle Poem

By Joy Harjo

To pray you open your whole self

To sky, to earth, to sun, to moon

To one whole voice that is you.

And know there is more

That you can’t see, can’t hear;

Can’t know except in moments

Steadily growing, and in languages

That aren’t always sound but other

Circles of motion.

Like eagle that Sunday morning

Over Salt River. Circled in blue sky

In wind, swept our hearts clean

With sacred wings.

We see you, see ourselves and know

That we must take the utmost care

And kindness in all things.

Breathe in, knowing we are made of

All this, and breathe, knowing

We are truly blessed because we

Were born, and die soon within a

True circle of motion,

Like eagle rounding out the morning

Inside us.

We pray that it will be done

In beauty.

In beauty.

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