Early arrivals

We’ve been patiently waiting for the arrival of the bald eagles from the north as the temperatures drop and the lakes which provide food for the birds become inaccessible. There have been several sightings of birds passing through, but they have been distant and on the move. And so, we decide to take off for Pennsylvania to one of our favorite eagle-havens outside of the Hudson valley….the Delaware River. Riding beside the river along Route 97 between Port Jervis and Barryville, we keep a keen eye out for perched eagles, but they are not to be found. Finally, we end up at the parking area in Lackawaxen, PA at the confluence of the river of the same name and the Delaware. We are rewarded for our efforts in grand style as two magnificent mature eagles are perched at close proximity and in clear view. When we first found the two birds, there were two other cars at the lot. Ah, the miracle of technology……cell phones start to appear and within 10 minutes there are no fewer than a dozen vehicles, each producing eagle enthusiasts and each of them producing a bigger lens! We estimate conservatively that there is between $65,000 and $70,000 worth of photographic equipment. I am, I have to admit, guilty of “lens envy” but this display of imaging power present in the lot is easily eclipsed by the fantastic images provided by our avian subjects.

Visitor from the north

This being Christmas eve, I know we are all expecting a special visitor from the north country. And so, I should not have been surprised to come upon this fine bird which I normally associate with the Adirondacks and points north. I had heard reports of a Pacific loon on Greenwood Lake in southeastern New York, and so my wife Sharon and I took off in heavy rains and high winds to see if we could photograph this rarity. Well, after a 45 minute drive through dense fog and rain, we arrived at the site to find a loon......not the rare Pacific loon, but a bird uncommon in these parts of the state, the Common loon. We were able to observe the bird and get close enough to photograph it (albeit in not the best lighting!) from the comfort of our car. We were able to park on a wharf owned by a local marina and the bird came to visit us....an early Christmas present. Even when you miss the "target bird" as we did today, you can always count on Mother Nature to offer some tangible reward for your time and effort. Today was no different.

Naturally digital 2008

My passions have long been birding and photography. Now that we are retired, my wife and I can spend more time travelling, and of course, doing more birding and having the opportunity to photograph new birds and new environments. This site will chronicle the year 2008 in words and photograhs, and through the site I hope to share some of our experiences in the natural world. While we live in the lower Hudson Valley, our images will not be limited to that locale. Indeed, this year found us in the south, in Peru, and in Thailand. We aren't sure where we'll end up this year.
We will be starting in New York as we will be monitoring the influx of the Bald eagle into the Hudson Valley. Each year, as the northern waters freeze solid, the eagles venture south in search of open water and food. The lower Hudson around West Point and points south offers just what the birds need. Generally, the eagles show up in mid-January, but this has been a colder than normal late fall and early winter, and already, the eagles are making their presence known. So, I will begin posting regularly in January (unless something exceptional happens earlier here in the valley). We look forward to having you spend the natural year with us.