Two bald eagles just flew through the ravine in front of me - at closer range than I've ever seen them before in the wild. What an awesome sight!
I could see the white head on one, but the other one might have been immature. The lighting through the trees made it hard to tell.
Seeing eagles is kind of a coincidence, because Dave Omlor was kind enough to send me the photo of an eagle he recently found sitting in a tree so we could share it with you on today's page. I don't know if it's one of the same birds I'm seeing now, but it seems likely because I'm writing this at Steyer Nature Preserve.
Smaller birds also are enjoying this beautiful Indian summer Wednesday afternoon with me, along with the occasional squirrel scooting up a nearby tree.
The sky is blue. The sun is warm. The grass still is green. And a breeze is rustling through the trees, blowing a few leaves to the ground on this late fall day.
Now I'm seeing one eagle soaring in circles higher in the sky, with the sun glinting brightly off its white feathers.
And there it goes again back the other way. I think I'm seeing two different birds. One has a white head and tail and the other is mostly brown with some white - maybe a 3-year-old.
The beautiful scenery I'm watching and the gorgeous weather makes me want to hike. I don't get out on the trails as often as I would like, so I'm planning some late fall and winter hikes to explore some nature areas.
Would anyone like to join me?
There goes my eagle again. It's circling above me. Just beautiful!
Back to the hikes
There already are some fall hikes scheduled by Linda Rose, Seneca County Park District program director.
Linda also is a naturalist for the Sandusky County Park District and she'll be leading a full moon hike 8-9 p.m. Nov. 21 at Creek Bend Farm on SR 590 south of Lindsey.
Register by calling (419) 334-4495 or (888) 200-5577.
She'll lead another full moon hike at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 22 at Tiffin University Nature Preserve on Miami Street just outside the Tiffin city limits.
In Hancock County, a full Beaver Moon hike is planned 7 p.m. Nov. 22 at Riverbend Recreation Area. Meet at shelter 5.
A Luminary Walk is planned 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at Zimmerman Nature Preserve, SR 18, next to Autumnwood Care Center.
Anyone interested in joining me for some fall and winter hikes, probably at noon on some Friday afternoons, e-mail me at vicki.dte@gmail.com, or call me at (419) 601-2495.
Vicki Johnson reports on outdoors, agriculture and business news for The A-T.
