Harris Rubin Studio

The Conowingo Dam spans the Susquehanna River in north east Maryland. This is prime time to see the bald eagles that gather there to fish at its base. These are some of the eagles that I saw Monday. It takes up to five years for a juvenile eagle to develop its distinct white head and tail feathers. Pictured here are both adult and juvenile eagles. In the 1700’s Eagle populations were estimated to be between 300,000 and 500,000. At the lowest point, during the early 1960’s (due to habitat loss and DDT) there were as few as 450 nesting pairs. Now, thanks to conservation efforts, and the important work of Rachel Carson, and others, there are estimated to be approximately 70,000 eagles and 5,000 nesting pairs. On this Thanksgiving, that’s something to be thankful for.

On a gray morning last week, I saw this bald eagle perched above the Gunpowder River in Baltimore County, Md.

Suddenly Gingko. Gingko trees are almost living fossils. The species goes back about 290 million years. Gingko trees that are over 600 years old (currently living in China) show no signs of aging. They reproduce and grow just as they did as young trees. They are able to resist pests. Gingko trees tend to drop their leaves all at once, so in one day, you can have a carpet of Gingko leaves covering the ground. Fascinating and beautiful.

What better time to post spider web pictures than Halloween. I am fascinated by spiderwebs, their complexity, the beauty of the spider’s labor, the notion of them as hunting tools. Most of these photos were taken in the morning, when the newly woven spiderwebs were dripping with dew.

A Hans Hoffman painting presented by the maple trees, on Friday. I love October.