We were excited to see a young eaglet sitting on the edge of a nest in a tree along the Mississippi River. A second eaglet could be seen lower in the nest, stretching its wings. Eventually one of the parents came back to the tree and sat in the shadow of a branch above them, dutifully keeping watch before settling back into the nest.
“I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.” ~ Helen Keller
This is one of my favorite places to watch the sun set at Reelfoot Lake. On this day, as I watched the lake reflect the golden color of the sky, two eagles which had previously gone undetected suddenly took flight. It was all quite a lovely sight and a free gift for the taking.
One midnight, deep in starlight still,
I dreamed that I received this bill:
… Five thousand breathless dawns all new;
Five thousand flowers fresh in dew;
Five thousand sunsets wrapped in gold;
One-million snow-flakes served ice-cold;
Five quiet friends; one baby’s love;
One white-mad sea with clouds above;
One hundred music-haunted dreams
Of moon-drenched roads and hurrying streams;
Of prophesying winds, and trees;
Of silent stars and browsing bees;
One June night in a fragrant wood;
One heart that loved and understood.
I wondered when I waked at day,
How—how in God’s name—I could pay!”
~
On a recent trip to the Reelfoot area, we were able to spot several eagles. The first one we saw was sitting on a log out in the lake. It was keeping an eye on a flock of ducks that was swimming nearby.
Then we drove to the Mississippi levee and saw an eagle sitting in a tree near a large nest.
Further on down the levee, we spotted two eagles sitting in the same tree. One was near the top of the tree and the other was more concealed, sitting on a lower branch.
No matter how many times you see them, it is always a joy to observe these beautiful birds.
“We live in a beautiful and wonderful world … and the more you know about it the wiser and the better you will be.” ~Louisa May Alcott
While driving along the Mississippi levee, we spotted these two eagles sitting contently together in the trees.
“Contentment is a state of the heart, unaffected by outward circumstances.” ~Crystal Paine
Despite the overcast skies, we recently headed to Reelfoot Lake in hopes of seeing the white pelicans. After looking for them in all the usual places, we finally found them at our last stop of the day. It quickly became obvious that we weren’t the only ones watching them. We spotted five eagles sitting high atop the trees — perhaps hoping to pick off a wounded pelican as easy prey. Unfortunately, the grey day changed to a light drizzle, and then to rain, and our time of watching the pelicans came to an end.
“We could all take a lesson from the weather, it pays no attention to criticism.” ~Unknown
Despite several onlookers on the levee road below, this eagle appeared to be quite content as it sat on its private perch overlooking the Mississippi River.
“Surely there is something in the unruffled calm of nature that overawes our little anxieties and doubts … [and] seems to impart a quiet to the mind.” ~Jonathan Edwards
An eagle perched in a tree along the Mississippi River
“You can observe a lot just by watching.” ~Yogi Berra
“Eagles come in all shapes and sizes but you will recognize them chiefly by their attitudes.” ~E. F. Schumacher
“Silently flows the river to the sea, and the barges, too, go silently.” ~Author unknown
Photos taken along the Mississippi River Levee near Tiptonville, TN
walking on a country road 