The Eagle Has Landed

Can you believe, this is MY photo I took today??! I'm tempted to do an impressive "Wordless Wednesday" post but I simply cannot remain silent over the subject matter! I went for a long drive today, over 100 miles in a big loop...the sun has been out, it's 40+ F which feels warm, snow is melting fast...I went S to Hwy 36, across 'the park'. I was going to go to the town of Custer then head S again down Hwy 385, but decided last minute to go down the W part of the wildlife loop along Hwy 89, which connects with Hwy 385 in Wind Cave Nat'l Park. Anyway, thank God I went that way because right where you cross the cattle (or buffalo) guard into Wind Cave NP, I came upon two bald eagles in a dead tree by the side of the road. I went past them, turned around, and took photos from the car as I passed. One eagle flew off right away. I parked in a large turn-out there and carefully got out of the car and walked over within 25 feet of the tree. I was able to take my time taking photos; Baldie didn't seem to give a fig that I was there. Amazingly, not a single car drove by the whole time. What an amazing experience; I was just dumb-founded. More on my outing today to be posted soon.