I took a short walk late in the afternoon today, thinking I may be able to get close to a tree a Bald Eagle has been roosting in lately. As the sun was setting I made my way along the shoreline of the Patuxent River hoping to reach the tall pine. It was going pretty well, until a fall of trees blocked the easy passage.I trekked in toward the thin spit of land between the river and a small tidal marsh, treversing under trees and found some some connected stretches of sandy soil and sparse grasses.
I found the cactus in the photo above in the middle of nowhere. I found out later that it's a Prickly Pear cactus. More amazing to me, is that it is a protected native plant to the Chesapeake Bay area. How cool is that!
There were a ton of deer tracks. More like a boulevard of tracks really, though I spied none.
The mushrooms were my next find. Not sure what type they are, but they blended nicely with the pine straw.
I did eventually reach the pine tree I sought. I was within 15 yards if not closer, and looked up just in time to see my Bald Eagle for just a moment before he saw me. I only had time to admire his grace while getting the camera to my eye. Not a chance to see other than a "spec" in the photo. So I'll have to try again. I have to say it was well worth the short hike to see him so close. It really made my day.
On the way back, as the sun was nearly gone for the day, I found a horseshoe crab shell upside down on the beach among the short grasses. The fading light really made the scene drab, and somehow all the more appropriate given the haphazard resting position.The last treasure was finding these tracks right along the water. I'm not completely sure what critter took a stroll sometime ahead of me, but a friend thinks they look to belong to a raccoon.
The walk ends for now, but the trek to continually look for the beauty in the world continues.
Brian
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