Happy New Year

How did you celebrate? Did you go to bed early? Did you watch TV? Did you go to a party? Did you get wasted? Did you toast in the New Year with champagne? Did you kiss some special? I celebrated with my family. The kids stayed up late and played a new video game. I was on the computer sending out emails. Then in the morning- we went bird watching!
What? You don’t celebrate the New Year standing in the cold, griping your binoculars? What is wrong with you? Alright, I know bird watching is a peculiar hobby. We went to Starved Rock to watch the eagles. We had never gone eagle watching before. Besides, I got new binoculars and a cool new harness to carry them for Christmas. So you see-I had to do go birding. Even those of you that think birding is downright weird would enjoy seeing wild eagles.
Bald Eagles were mostly all we saw. We saw at least three different birds. There were at least two mature adults and one immature I have no clue how old. There were a few Canada geese, some gulls and a Great Blue Heron too. I don’t know what kinds of gulls. I have never paid much attention to them although there are many varieties in Illinois. I might read up on them before our next trip to Starved Rock. Maybe I should resolve to learn about gulls? LOL, that is even weird for me!
Anyway, the eagles were so cool to see. I got to watch them fishing and soaring and landing and taking off and just plain sitting in a tree. They are soooo big! It was so worth the cold, the slipping, and sliding on the ice just to get to see these birds. And by the way I love my new binoculars. Happy New Year! And Happy Birding!