Between the Earth and the Sky

http://www.hawkmountain.org/

If you're a birder, with  capital 'B', then you will have heard of Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania. Since 1932, it has been a sanctuary for birds and buteos and  buzzards and the humans who want to watch them.

It is an international birding hotspot, and people from all over the world

make special vacation plans so they can be here. 

Just like we did two weeks ago.

The first bird I saw was big. And goofy looking.

Oh. A guide to let us (and the 100's of others streaming to the park)

know that we had arrived. And park your car over there to the left, please.

Keeeekkkkkk!

If by chance you didn't actually know why you were here, the park is filled with reminders, and outdoor guides to let you know what you may be seeing.

And the excitement begins to build as you realize it is entirely possible that you may soon be eyeball to eyeball with a bald eagle. Or a hummingbird.

Just depends which way the wind blows.

So filled with energetic expectation you begin the trek to the top.

 A mere 1500 feet. Straight up, and sometimes down, over boulders.

Can I just say that this looks a lot easier than it actually is? Not so much the climb, but scrambling over and around the rocks was an exercise in ankular dexterity. And for god's sake, don't wear flip flops! ( No, I didn't.)

1450 feet later from this spot on the path, I spotted my first bird!

A Great Horned Owl. Just sitting there! Oh, wait...why is there a tail feather lofting in the breeze? And why so mangy looking? Ah ha!

It's a stuffy GHO. Truly.

I guess he's mounted here to let you know that you are indeed now here too. You're at the north summit, a remote corner of southeastern Pennsylvania, where you  can sit quietly and watch as hawks soar by, catching thermals alongside the mountain ridges and kettling before your eyes. A sight to behold.

Did I say alone? No?

Good, because that is one thing you won't be.

(And no, it isn't a Tilley Hat fashion show.)

It was such a surprise to see all of these people! Although in hindsight I can't imagine why, as they likely read the same birding publications that I do, and were just doing exactly what we were. Seeking Mecca!

So, what's a birder to do?  Enjoy the scenery...birders come in all shapes and sizes, and you may as well people watch while you're waiting

for a bird to fly past.

He was enjoying the cool mountain breezes as well.

Eventually, the birds drifted through. On bright, sunny days like the day of our visit, the traffic is slow. No imminent storm brewing,

no strong winds blowing...

just a nice day for a leisurely flight south.

This Bald Eagle -the fuzzy one that was pretty far way- was one of four that we saw, along with several Broadwings, Sharp Shins, Coopers, Merlins, and assorted other birds, including Chimney Swifts, a Hummingbird,

and some Cedar Waxwings.

Oh, and a Bronze Eagle. Best shot of the day!

 Hawk watching is a different kind of birding all together. Unlike warblers or shorebirds, that you seek out and generally find as you enter their habitat, with

hawks you sit and wait. And wait. And hope the wind picks up.

Would I go back? Depends which way the wind's blowing.

Was I happy we went?

Do birds have wings?

The Auction

"Gimme $20 now, who'll gimme $5 more? Lookit $25 now, c'mon, gimme $5 more!"

The song of the auctioneer was loud and clear last Saturday as he cranked up the volume and frenzy to get the buying mojo going. I love auctions, especially if they're held in the meeting hall at the village fairgrounds, which this one was. Oddly enough, it wasn't all that well attended, perhaps because it was a gorgeous, sunny fall day, and the long Canadian Thanksgving weekend was in full swing. Families and friends together to celebrate the harvest with every root vegetable known to man, roasted turkey and pumpkin pie.
But I digress.
Back to the auction, which was a combination of three different family estates. Lots and lots of old, rusty, battered tools; sheets that might serve as rags; plain old trash, and here and there, a treasure or two!

Like this Massey Ferguson tractor. The auctioneer brought the crowd outside to take a look at this "dandy, handy thing" and he immediately got the ball rolling.  "All right folks, $1500 bucks...let's get'er started." he said. Silence, finally broken by the old gent standing next to me who called out "$1300." That to me is a lot of money in these trying times, especially for an old tractor. But, the auctioneer didn't think so. He merely looked at him, and said to the crowd in general, "Folks, this here is a damn fine tractor, and if you want to get serious and make me a good offer - over $1500 - then talk to me inside." And off he went! Back to schlep  all the other schlock. Old gent with the pretty good offer turned to the drifting crowd and said to no one in particular, "Ah, that's just foreplay!"

I love auctions!

My daughter and I were actually there by accident - having shown up a week early for  another event to be held in the hall. But, women with wallets, and lots of stuff to wheel and deal over, what more can I say? Four (!) hours later, we were the extremely  happy owners of an art deco maple veneer breakfast hutch; two bedside tables, handmade with square head nails;  two charming antique chairs with star stamped seats; one lovely bevelled glass mirror; a hand made fruit box with lid; an original soapstone carving featuring two owls in flight;a Henry Dreyfuss chrome biscuit clock  in excellent condition and still ticking; a green glass Eagle Decanter complete with six shot glasses; a Mad Men era martini shaker with stirling silver top; two metal peacocks; and orginal RM Wells oil painting -a beautiful seascape in an ornate plaster frame.

Total price for all this? $122.32
Afternoon at the auction with my daughter? Priceless.