Birds

[thujone]

Was approaching dusk and I was walking along the banks of a very picturesque river in the far north of England, very close to Scotland.

I'd just finished a hash joint and was stood leaning against a beautiful tree. Was one of those perfect moments where everything was still, even time seemed to freeze, and then this huge (unmistakably) golden eagle flew silently and effortlessly a few feet abvove the river, literally following it's course (can't remember if it was flying (well, gliding) up or down stream though. Watched it's flight for maybe 60 meters and it passed within 4 meters of my head. Can still see it clearly now in my minds eye a good 40 years later.

Btw I've had many beautiful experiences/connections with animals when my vibe has been super-chilled - they 100% behave differently in that scenario, no doubt whatsoever about that. This experience with the eagle was just coincidence though I reckon.

I have a story like that too, except grungier and not as picturesque

this took place in the city, I lived near a highway overpass that I had to cross on foot often.

the walkways on overpasses suck, it's just three feet of concrete sandwiched between a guardrail and the road. at most, two people can pass each other just barely.

so one day as I was walking on the overpass, there was a golden eagle perched on the guardrail.

i assumed it would fly away on my approach because it's a very small walkway.

nope, it just sat there staring me down with a very serious looking face as i squeezed by.

wikipedia says this subspecies has an average wingspan of 6 ft 8", so being next to one it feels less like a bird and more like a dinosaur.

the talons also seem bigger up close than in pictures, probably because pictures make the whole bird seem smaller than it is up close. suffice it to say, this thing could scratch your spine through your chest.