01 25 00

hawk encounter

This is so cool.

I was coming back from lunch today on a rather new road that passes by a wooded area. I stopped at the stop sign and started through the intersection when I saw a red tailed hawk coming out of the trees, right over my car.

Slowing almost to a stop, I watched the hawk glide across the road. There was a brisk wind today, and the hawk was flying right into it. It was using its wings to "float" on the wind. Not flapping at all. It was moving so slowly that I could hardly believe it was still aloft.

It passed directly over my car. At this point I stopped and watched it cruise in slow motion. It was only about 5 feet or so above Dexter's roof, and moving at about the speed I could walk.

This was the closest I've ever been to a hawk in the wild. True, I was in my car, but I could see everything... How it had its feet tucked up and hidden in its feathers, how the tips of its wings were adjusting all the time to control lift and direction, how it used its tail as a brake against the wind.

As soon as it passed over the road it sped up. It almost seemed as if it wanted me to get a good look at it. Or maybe it was trying to get a good look at me. It landed on a fence post in a field across the road.

I love things that fly. I have an extensive collection of kites, including one very abused stunt kite. If I had better vision and more money I would get my pilot's license so that I could fly myself.

Watching the hawk cruise across the road, slowly but in complete control, was awe-inspiring. I can't even put it into words, which is a rarity for me. grin

And now it's snowing.

I spent a good 45 minutes looking for a Dick Goddard web site to link to here, but I couldn't find one. I can't believe that he doesn't have one. He must have a web site someplace.

And right now the people who do not live in Northeast Ohio are thinking, "Who the hell is Dick Goddard?" Hee hee hee...

Anyway, Dick Goddard sez:

"Four to six inches of snow tonight, with an additional accumulation of four to six inches Wednesday."

Uh, that's, like, a possible twelve inches of snow, Dick.

Whee! Another fun day at work tomorrow, I'm sure.

Late Addendum

I found a website for Dick! Check it out... The man, the myth, the legend!

Ok, so you might think I'm weird for liking this guy, but Dick is the MAN. He's my Mr. Weather. He likes animals. He founded the Woollybear Festival. What's not to like?

______ of the Day