We had a second annual 4th of July party in our neighborhood park last night. We have a number of musicians in the neighborhood, and we set up a PA and instruments for an informal open-mic jam. My two boys played some songs under their new band name Bloodstained Roses. It was a fun event with good tunes, grilling and Bocce and volleyball. Word spread this year and we had a good crowd of more than 200 people.

At the height of the festivities we saw an amazing sight in the sky above. A Bald Eagle was in a mid-air battle with a hawk. There’s a large prarie dog colony right near us and the abundance of these critters seems to draw a lot of birds of prey. It’s not the first time that I’ve seen a Bald Eagle near my home, but it’s rare.

It was such a neat coincidence for the symbol of our country to appear on the day that we celebrate our independence. The aerial acrobatics of the two birds lasted at least 30 minutes, and had a rapt audience of adults and kids for a good portion of that time. Eventually the eagle flew off to find less disputed territory.

I’m sure the hawk was one of two nesting pairs that have raised their young in nearby cottonwoods the past two years. It’s understandable that there’d be a territorial battle with young to raise.

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