The eagle has landed

Over the years, I’ve tried to make it a policy never to step foot outside without my camera in my pocket. This is because I never know what kind of interesting or exciting thing might suddenly happen, such as the cows playing tag with a magpie.

Well the other morning I couldn’t find my camera, so I shrugged and went about my usual barn chores. Then — wouldn’t you know it — while I was standing in the corral filling the water tank, a bald eagle flew right over my head and landed on a tall pine next to the barn. And I didn’t have my camera. It would have been a perfect shot.

I was kicking myself for missing that photo, and once again promised myself to take my camera every time I step foot outside. Which is how, while driving to town yesterday, I happened to see another bald eagle swoop in and land on a tree overlooking the road. This time I was ready.

My usual procedure when faced like situations like this is not to worry about distance, blurriness, or shooting through the car’s windshield (as I was doing). It’s just to point and shoot at first, then later try to improve the situation and get better photos. That way, if (in this case) the eagle flew away before I could get closer, at least I had a long-distance blurry photo through the car’s windshield.

But the eagle stayed put as I got onto the highway, so I stopped on the shoulder nearer the tree.

I took a few photos, more or less identical, then proceeded into town to do my errands. But on the way back, the eagle was still there.

Feeling satisfied I at last got my eagle photo, I went on my way. I got barely a hundred yards down the road when another eagle swooped in and landed on a tree across the road.

Y’know, I really love living in Idaho.

And it sure helps having a camera.