holiday — The Chronicler's Tales

It was an almost perfect day on July 4, when I took the ferry and train to Mount Loretto Unique Area on Staten Island to look for our national bird, the bald eagle. I wasn’t disappointed: I got to see both eagle parents (although not the two eaglets, who I was told were flying around the area — maybe next trip!).

*Papa Bald Eagle was on the utility tower when I reached the church grounds.*

*In the evening, the eagle parents shared a tree over the beach at Mt. Loretto*

I had my picnic lunch looking out over the Atlantic Ocean, after I saw one of the eagles on the utility tower then in a tree over the beach. I also got to see the osprey nest and babies near Page Avenue. I stayed around Mt. Loretto until a little after 8 p.m., finding the eagles at Cunningham Pond then back in a tree over the beach. I caught the Staten Island Railroad back to the ferry terminal at St. George, arriving there a little after 9 (I was listening to the Yankees game on the radio, which was a very entertaining and also very American activity on the Fourth!). Since the ferry was suspended until 10:30 because of the fireworks in the harbor, I walked out on the terminal esplanade to watch the show as best I could. It was a bit crowded, and I didn’t have my tripod out, but I had fun taking some pictures and watching the celebration lighting up the sky around the Statue of Liberty. The Macy’s fireworks on the East River were a bit obstructed by a very bright light in front of me, but Lady Liberty’s light show was just splendid.

More eagles and fireworks, taken with my Sony camera.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is the unofficial launch of the Christmas season in New York City. Yes, some of the stores have already put up decorations and installed their holiday windows, but until Santa Claus arrives at Herald Square on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas isn't really on the horizon in the Big Apple!

*Santa Claus at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Nov. 23*

I went to the parade on November 23, and though I was somewhat back of the crowd at 72nd Street and Central Park West, I managed to film the balloons and some of the tops of the floats. No chance to really see the marching bands (until I ran down to Sixth Avenue and Central Park South to see Santa a second time). I set the parade movie to some fun music from the YouTube Audio Library.

I don't go to the parade every year. It is just too stressful. (I almost lost it with an alpha male who complained that I was bumping into him when I lifted my camera to film — maybe he had a point, but his complaint was so hostile and threatening, and he was in a crowded area where one would definitely expect to be bumped — so I tried to move away from his as best I could.)

But all in all, it was fun to see the balloons and watch the kids wave back to the people on the floats.

Independence Day, With Eagles and Fireworks

Here Comes Santa Claus!