Hi! Sharon and I visited the lafarge site yesterday (Sunday) afrernoon, getting there at around 3oclock. As we anticipated no one was in the tree. We scanned the sky here and there and I listened intently but we saw no one and I heard no sound of eagles.

It was a very pleasant afternoon with a stiff breeze. We had a perfect vantage point of the tree by sitting on a park bench under the shade of some beautiful Elm? trees. I should have paid closer attention to them... not maple I know that for sure. The little park was being used by dog walkers and others enjoying the afternoon. I found myself feeing quite at home and relaxed. One of the dogs decided that Sharon should play too, and she obliged, throwing his ball for him about 1/2-dozen times.

After a while, 45 minutes? we decided to avail ourselves of the amenities of the McDonalds at the corner for a break and then back to the nest. Still no one around. We figured it would be early evening before anyone was likely to show up to the tree so soon we headed back to Sharon's to check the forum for news and to have a bit of supper.

We got back to the park around 8oclock and I was barely out of the car when I was sure I could see someone on the tree! Sharon zoomed in with her camera and we soon discovered chakchak and an adult were home, on the 'left' hand side of the tree from our vantage point. Of course by now the sun had progressed to the point where looking at the tree meant staring in exactly the same direction as the setting sun! ( of course I didn't bring sunglasses -- what -- you think I'm That smart!! )

Two were home but we were none the wiser as to where they had been all day. They each left their positions eventually seeming to fly in a low loop to our left and back to the tree again. We would loose sight of them in the combination of bright sun in the sky and deep shadow beneath the structures of the lafarge plant.
'
Chakchak ended up on a branch on the right of the tree near the nest and began an off and on again screeeep screeeeep serenade! It was so wonderful to finally hear his voice!! I could hear the seagulls and there were crows around too, but the sound of a screeeping fledgling is unmistakeable.


By about 9oclock the light wasn't so good for picture taking and it was time to bring the day to an end. Sharon got me home by about 9:45PM and headed directly home -- probably about another 40 minutes drive.

Who'd have thought that sitting on a park bench to strare at a lonely tree and all the industrial equipment that surrounds it could make for such a fulfilling and fun day! I hope we'll get another chance before they leave.

I hope that Sharon will post at least 1-2 of her pictures. Her zoom isn't as 'zoomy' as she'd like... so she is a bit disappointed with the results.

Terry, I'm thrilled that you got your eagle fix yesterday.
I wondered all day if you'd be lucky enough to see them. They sure were elusive for most of the day.

This is a picture from google earth of the bench we sat on in Cambridge Park on Sunday. It is not a very recent picture, as the chain link fence a which separates the park from the commercial area now has blackberry vines on it to about3/4 of the way to the top. Also there is no longer a pile of dirt -- as you can see it gives a good if distant view of the tree. at the extreme right of the image you cam just barely see the edge of the fenced off area devoted to a Community Garden. People cam and went from it while we were there

click to enlarge

Thanks for "taking us along" on your visit to the nest, Terry - how wonderful that you got to see Tenas Chakchak fly and call out! I am so looking forward to having sound here next year!

Terry and gemini - that's great you got to see - and hear - Chakchak!

Quote by: birdofprey

Terry and gemini - that's great you got to see - and hear - Chakchak!

I hadn't reailzed how much I'd missed the voices of eagles this season until I heard Chakchak start to screeep.

GOOD MORNING LaFARGE NESTERS,

I enjoyed your report Terry, I was there with Sharon in July and also got to see ChakChak and the parents. Only thing is we did not get to sit on that lovely bench. It was occupied by a man and his "bags" and then antoher man came by with a cute dog and he was telling us about anest that was ocupied up behind London Drugs, so we checked that out and got to speak to the neighbors on that one.

When I get home tonight I will post a couple of pictures I took at LaFarge. Glad you got to see the eagles and have such an enjoyable day and if you were with Sharon, I know you two had fun.

HELLO AGAIN EVERYONE

I found I had my flash drive with me at work so am gonig to post these pictures now as I have time between jobs.

These were taken the 11th July in the a.m.