Golden Experience!

Today and tomorrow, temperatures are expected to be between 28 and 18 degrees, which would be the coldest weather seen in North Texas in more than a decade. Yet, in a few days...it will be back to normal 'wintering-in-Texas' at The Vineyards Campground; so we'll "hunker-down"...as folks say in Texas.

After breakfast, we fed the birds, putting out birdseed for the Cardinals and House Sparrows that usually hover around the campsite like good neighbors. But today, there were absolutely NO birds about—usually nature's signal that a raptor is nearby. And sure enough, surveying the campground from above was one magestic Golden Eagle, perched atop one of the larger native Live Oaks. It stayed there long enough so we could get binoculars to indentify it. As the eagle moved its eyes along the shoreline of Grapevine Lake in search of food, you could see the light golden plumage on its head and neck. Truly magnificient! Did anyone else see this?

Today's strong artic cold front probably forced its migration further south this week. Though Goldens usually travel in mated pairs, we couldn't find another one in the tops of nearby pine trees. Stationary for about 5-minutes, memories we have of the Golden's in-flight take off was worth the stay at The Vineyards! It's powerful wingspan was almost 5-feet across, and it soon disappeared, hunting beyond the southwest end of the campground.