It was an almost perfect day on July 4, when I took the ferry and train to Mount Loretto Unique Area on Staten Island to look for our national bird, the bald eagle. I wasn’t disappointed: I got to see both eagle parents (although not the two eaglets, who I was told were flying around the area — maybe next trip!).
Papa Bald Eagle was on the utility tower when I reached the church grounds.
In the evening, the eagle parents shared a tree over the beach at Mt. Loretto
I had my picnic lunch looking out over the Atlantic Ocean, after I saw one of the eagles on the utility tower then in a tree over the beach. I also got to see the osprey nest and babies near Page Avenue. I stayed around Mt. Loretto until a little after 8 p.m., finding the eagles at Cunningham Pond then back in a tree over the beach. I caught the Staten Island Railroad back to the ferry terminal at St. George, arriving there a little after 9 (I was listening to the Yankees game on the radio, which was a very entertaining and also very American activity on the Fourth!). Since the ferry was suspended until 10:30 because of the fireworks in the harbor, I walked out on the terminal esplanade to watch the show as best I could. It was a bit crowded, and I didn’t have my tripod out, but I had fun taking some pictures and watching the celebration lighting up the sky around the Statue of Liberty. The Macy’s fireworks on the East River were a bit obstructed by a very bright light in front of me, but Lady Liberty’s light show was just splendid.
More eagles and fireworks, taken with my Sony camera.
Lady Liberty …
An eagle over the beach ,,,
looking lovely in the fireworks.
… and over Cunningham Pond.
