Eagles and Hawks and Geese, oh my!
Nov. 19th, 2006 01:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ellyssianThe breakfast and dinner went well yesterday. The hawk watch was okay for me, but the others experienced some confusion over what exactly entailed the north lookout...
Bake Oven Knob has two lookouts, north and south, and, depending on which way the wind blows, the birds will travel by one or the other. When we didn't find anyone at the south lookout, I said we'd head to the other - a couple of folks came with me, but they stopped on the north side of the ridge - about a 15 minute climb down then up again from the north lookout, where everyone was.
In the first few minutes I was there, I saw several red tailed hawks and my first-ever golden eagle (in the wild; I've seen them at close range several times in recovery.) The north lookout is on a very thin ridge, and actually commands views in both directions, if a little more daunting to reach. I waved at the barely-visible south lookout, although not, apparently, at anyone I was with. During the time I was there, about 60 birds went by, including an adult bald eagle, some sharpies, many red tails, and some broad-wings. A couple of golden eagles went by just after I left.
I did manage to get word back to Deb, Justin, Debbie, Zack, CJ, and Rich, and Deb and Debbie came partway down the ridge and called me back. From where they were, they saw nothing - none of the eagles, hawks, and not even the line of geese that soared over the notch about three glasses up - in other words, right in front (and above) their faces. They did not believe me, until another confirmed that in the short time she'd been there, she saw thirty birds, including the bald eagle (which was close enough to be visible to they eye,) and they saw her heading up to the lookout so they knew she hadn't been there long.
On the way back, we saw two airports (i.e. grass fields,) some horses, a handful of deer, and a parasailor.
The food seemed to be enjoyed - The Intripled Potato went over well, as did the Cattleman's ribs. Debbie brought muffins for breakfast and CJ made cheesecake for desert. Rich brought some donuts to add to the breakfast feast.
Temperature out on the ridge wasn't bad - although it did drop to 39F (not including windchill) shortly after I made it to the north lookout.
Bake Oven Knob has two lookouts, north and south, and, depending on which way the wind blows, the birds will travel by one or the other. When we didn't find anyone at the south lookout, I said we'd head to the other - a couple of folks came with me, but they stopped on the north side of the ridge - about a 15 minute climb down then up again from the north lookout, where everyone was.
In the first few minutes I was there, I saw several red tailed hawks and my first-ever golden eagle (in the wild; I've seen them at close range several times in recovery.) The north lookout is on a very thin ridge, and actually commands views in both directions, if a little more daunting to reach. I waved at the barely-visible south lookout, although not, apparently, at anyone I was with. During the time I was there, about 60 birds went by, including an adult bald eagle, some sharpies, many red tails, and some broad-wings. A couple of golden eagles went by just after I left.
I did manage to get word back to Deb, Justin, Debbie, Zack, CJ, and Rich, and Deb and Debbie came partway down the ridge and called me back. From where they were, they saw nothing - none of the eagles, hawks, and not even the line of geese that soared over the notch about three glasses up - in other words, right in front (and above) their faces. They did not believe me, until another confirmed that in the short time she'd been there, she saw thirty birds, including the bald eagle (which was close enough to be visible to they eye,) and they saw her heading up to the lookout so they knew she hadn't been there long.
On the way back, we saw two airports (i.e. grass fields,) some horses, a handful of deer, and a parasailor.
The food seemed to be enjoyed - The Intripled Potato went over well, as did the Cattleman's ribs. Debbie brought muffins for breakfast and CJ made cheesecake for desert. Rich brought some donuts to add to the breakfast feast.
Temperature out on the ridge wasn't bad - although it did drop to 39F (not including windchill) shortly after I made it to the north lookout.
