Gretchen Farnsworth (Sandy Beach Road) sent these photos Jim took this morning. Here's what she wrote: 

Jim took these pictures of the eagle today right in front of the house. We have been watching him soar with his mate and try to snag ducks and mergansers out of the water. I’m never sure which bird to root for. Love watching the migration in progress.
Gretchen Farnsworth

 I'm wondering if having the eagles here will be a threat to our loon families. There isn't much to be done about any of the habits of wildlife - it's always the survival of the fittest, but it would be sad to think the loons might leave or end up sacrificing their chicks. We'll see what happens.  In the meantime, many thanks to Jim and Gretchen Farnsworth for these great shots. They have a perfect spot for wildlife watching, as do Scott and Gerri Pelok, next door to them.

     Gretchen sent this third picture of the eagle - cropped from the one above. 

 What a beautiful day this has been! and more to come. It's about 


time. I had a call from Ted Chase this afternoon to let me know it was him on the snowmobile Diane Rossi and Henretta Splain saw a few days ago. He said he keeps close track of the ice depth and when he was out there he measured 16 inches of very solid ice.  That is plenty for snowmobiling - at least in most places. Ted assured me he knows where there are brooks coming into the pond and about the narrows being thin spots, and said we should not worry. That's good to know, Ted, but it's also good to know someone is watching and we're looking out for each other!