It was colder on the trail than I thought it would be. Incredible mist hovered and swirled over the canal on my left and the river on my right. We could hear deer crashing through the bushes, but enough leaves still cling to the branches to conceal them from sight. Here and there, we spotted a cardinal or a bluejay.
On the far side of the canal, I heard the loud rapping of a pileated woodpecker. I’ve been trying all summer to photograph one, but they are always too high in the trees, or too far away. I stopped and sat on the ground, hoping this one would come out into the open. I 0
could see it at the base of a tree, little flickers of its head and wings as it moved around, but never a clear shot. Finally, my fingers were aching and Chuck was restless to we had to move on.
We came to a place where the view of the river opens up. The riverbed is wide and the water moves around a large stony beach, rushing in channels and then slowing as it flows through wide pools. There is a beautiful stand of sycamore trees on the far bank. High up in one of the trees, I spotted something large and dark. A bald eagle! It stood on a creamy branch surrounded by decorative seed balls. It was so beautiful! I watched it as it watched the water. Suddenly, its posture changed; it stood taller and leaned forward. Then, it swooped off the branch toward the water. It turned before striking and soared off into the forest.
