Ozzie is visiting her sister Karen in Ventura and will be at Lake Casitas Tuesday
Feb. 15th. She has invited everyone for a very relaxing time of birding, hiking
and lunch to follow at a local Mexican Food restaraunt in Ojai.

Time to be determined.

I'll be there!!!!!

Hiker - keep us posted - want to try to get away from work if I can for part of the day - the later in the day the better for me.

Okey Dokey,
I'm just the messenger :soar:
but I'll post over here what I know. <:::

We were talking about the Mexican Food at the local cafe at the lake... I think a potluck would be more relaxing in our 'usual' area... wouldn't take that much to throw together... the cafe is taxed with help at lunch... but if that is what majority wants..maybe we could let them know ahead of time we are coming... all this is just food for thought... I love our picnic area... and is close to eagle trees and we could watch with binnoculars... easy hike...hope they are there...Kim at raptors said they were there friday with sticks...

Bringing this over FYI -
Cathy/Topa posted this on the IWS Chat forum yesterday AM -
"Ozzi,
Suza said she saw the two eagles at the lake Friday working on their nest.
They were flying in a tall tree with large sticks. I know where the tree is now.
Can't wait to go stalk the lake eagles. :soar: :soar: :clk: "

Just read your post Linda and adding my two cents -
I know there will be some walking involved with getting to the nest
area - I will go with the majority.
I just want to see Cruzers <3 and Eagles :<<o>>: and eat, of course. :lol:

I might be able to come but have to factor in driving in rush hour traffic to arrive in a timely manner. Also depends on weather. Bringing food would be a complication for me but maybe could get some fresh strawberries. Would love to see :<<o>>: :<<o>>: and Cruzers. :D

Looking forward to the gathering at the Lake! I can't participate in a potluck because of my work schedule on Monday, but it will be great to see Ozzie and all the other Cruzers, no matter how we end up feeding ourselves. :**: :**: :**:

Is there a headcount and start time posted somewhere?

My vote is taking Bob and Kathy to beautiful Boccali's. The mexican cafe may not be able to handle a group, but we know Boccali's can. :pacing:

Doesn't open till 4:00pm - boo hoo!

How about the Mexican Cafe at the Lake? We need a headcount so maybe we can warn them...you individually order at the window, and they bring it out...lots of birds, ducks, racoons, and squirrels.

Lake Casitas Picnic

Location Lake Casitas Ojai, CA USA

Tuesday, February 15 · 10:00am :ok: - 2:00pm

Created By Ozzie on FB

Topa, we're gonna meet at the 'picnic' area, but are gonna have lunch at the Casitas Cafe, Linda is going to talk to them tomorrow. A lot of people don't have time to make anything, and most just want to have a hike, talk and then head over for lunch.

The time has been changed, 10:00am till .....around 2:00pm or so.

However, if some want to bring their own lunch, they're welcome, and we can all eat on the deck overlooking the lake.

Purrrfect, It sounds like you & lala have it all under control.

Eggcellent.

It's a work day for me.
I will be able to meet at the
picnic sight with the beagle 10 am ish . :P :}^

Sorry, I can't stay for lunch. I love the lake restaraunt, you'll have a blast. :Yum:

I see we don't have a head count??? Guessing 10 to 15 ????

Lala I wouldn't miss the chance to see Ozzie. Bette and I are planning to come but I'd like a ride inside the gate and maybe she does too. Eating at the lake cafe sounds fun too. Can't wait to see the eagles. Are they building a nest or taking over one and improving it?

Ozzie's gathering at the lake!

Ozzie
Bob
Lala
Summer818
Regan
Topa
Iggles
Sandie
Bette
Katie ??
Kevin Price ?? friend of Ozzie on FB
SheilaSB
Roger

Please jump in if I missed your name. <3

Linda - I'm going to take my car inside the park so I have "wheels"
to move myself from the "picnic area" to the eagle tree area and/or
the restaurant area and walk as little as possible.

Sorry you can't stay for lunch Topa.... pretty nice little list of guests... shouldn't overwhelm the cafe too much...

Is the plan to do the walking/hiking from 10 - 12 and then lunch from 12 - 2pm - just wondering.

Topa, we'll miss you at the cafe. But, believe me work comes first in this economy. But we'll see you there for the eagle sightings. :X: I'm taking a test for the VCCCD, Ventura County Community College District on the 16th. So, this is a first in over a year!! Work, I can't wait to do it again.

Hi Sheila, sounds good to me. I dunno? :lol: :<::

Candy can't make it after all.

Ojai JoAnn is a probably yes. :D

Add Zoey to the list.

Awesome SheilaSB and Roger!!!!

email from SheilaSB. :<<>>: ^"^
" Talked it over with Roger and instead of trying to split my day of going into work then taking off and going back - decided to take a vacation day - so Roger and I will be there for the whole event - don't want to miss getting to see Ozzie and other Cruzers. "

Quickly, I'm just getting ready to leave for the procedure on the good eye...if I'm still blurry tomorrow, I won't be able to come......so, if I don't see ya'll have a great time.

Regan - :X: :X: :X: Sending you lots of healing mojo for your procedure today. Sure hope it will be easy on you and that you will be able to come to Casitas tomorrow...

:'( :'( :'( I'm not going to be able to make it tomorrow. Have to take my dad in for lab work. He's 94 in a couple of weeks and with the rain on Wednesday it's a no, no for going out. I have jury duty Thur and a class on Friday so that leaves tomorrow. :( Have a wonderful time everyone.

Regan - Hope your proceedure went well today and you'll be able to attend the gathering at Lake Casitas! :X:

Katie - Sorry to hear you're not gonna be able to make it. Good luck with all you have to do this week! :X:


We'll be with ya'll in spirit at the lake! :}^ Hope the weather is perfect and you get to see the eagle(s) doing nestorations! :<<o>>: Look forward to all the wonderful pictures of both eagles and eagleholics! :clk: :BE: :clk:

Something came up at work that I'm not going to be able to get out of.
I have to be in Oxnard, but I'm hoping I can fly by the lake after the seminar.
when you're at the snack bar to say Hello. Don't wait for me.
Drat, I really tried to make this event, it's so close to home.
I hope you see eagles. I know rain or shine the Cruzer's will have
a great time together.
Ozzie, enjoy your vaca with your sister in Ventura.

I too will not be able to make it. When it rains I ache everywhere and most especially in my ankles. I don't want to take the chance of falling. Plus I'm taking antibiotics for and infection in my teeth. That can go to the hip. Don't want to "feed the fire" and get worse.

Ozzie I'm so very very sorry. I really wanted to see you and meet Bob. Have a great time even tho it's raining. Hope the eagles are out to play.

:'( sorry.

Well, I thought I would see some posts here by now from the other Cruzers.... We had just an absolutely wonderful day... Roger and Sheila managed to catch up with us in time for our hike.. two hours and over 4 miles long... we were so happy to have lunch when we returned...

Bette and I had the best luck of all.. we got to the trees early, 8:00ish and both eagles were busy in and around nest.. they made frequent trips out of the nest and down into the valley below, soaring into meadows where they perched on dead trees and hunted... at one point the eagle flew into the wildflowers in the field and flapped and flapped with its struggle with some critter... and then flapped back up to the tree...and because of the extreme overcast and light, the birds were almost always in silhouette... I worked on my pics to add details, but couldn't see what critters they had caught.. just the trailing of debris from the field... another time one flew onto a trimmed green area and just stood for a few minutes and then flew about 15 feet away and, talon first, hit a gopher's mound... again, he came right back to the nest holding something but do details could be seen... But... our most exciting moment came when we were watching one eagle out on the front porch area, on a branch... and the second eagle came out of the nest.. they were about 4 feet apart... the one from the nest started inching towards the 2nd eagle and before we knew it, they were 'bonding'.. complete with the eagle chant and much flapping of enormous wings... sorry, no video as I was stunned, as was Bette... but a picture or two ... everything in silhouette... in all, they made 4 or 5 trips across the valley for prey or building material... the whitest and largest eagle was coming back to the nest with a rather large branch and the second eagle jumped out of the nest to go meet her.. then turned around to fly with her.. they bypassed the nest which had us running to find them on the other side.. found them fighting in the air for the stick... camera focused on the tree, so only have a blurry one and a clearer one to share... like I said, they were just all over the place today... Vicki, Kathie and Sara arrived just in time to see the larger white headed eagle, perched in the tree next door and posing like only a Bald Eagle can.. so everyone got their picture... Ozzie and Karen came later, after they had left our area and flew to the large island... Pictures coming up.. they look like black and whites but you will see how much fun we had....

Well, those of us who made it to Lake Casitas had a wonderful time.
No pictures from me - but Linda/lala took some fantastic photos.
I'm sure she will post the best of the best as soon as she can.

Linda and I met up a little after 8AM and as soon as we got to the nest area -
they were both there!!! Mind you, the nest is only 25-30 feet off the ground
and we were able to stand directly below (off to the side of course :P ).
We were alone with the eagles until about 10AM when Kathie/iggle, Vicki/
summer818 and Sara joined us. As soon as they got out of the car they saw
one eagle on the tree away from the nest - and Linda and I were laughing
at their expressions - that speechless look you get with your mouth agape
in total awe of what you are seeing.

In those first two hours, Linda and I saw several hunting trips and our feeling
was that when they caught the rodents (mice, gopher), they would also pick
up clumps of grass and/or sticks. And when they returned to the nest, they
would fly directly at us, and circle around once or twice before landing on the
nest, quite noisily, I might add. It almost sounded like a "crash landing."
They made absolutely no noise when they would fly off. Linda's brother Mike
joined us for a while, too. He said he told his mother that he was going to
the Lake to see his first eagle in the wild, and he wasn't disappointed. He
was showing Kathie, Vicki and Sara where the nest was. The one perched
in the other tree had the whiter head/tail, but you could tell it was still a year
away from the full whiteness. This one appeared to be the larger of the pair,
so Linda and I felt this was the female. The second eagle has more of a
mottled look - you can see that from Linda's previous pictures (like yesterday)/

There were two unbelievably exciting events before anyone else arrived -
and I am going to leave those two for Linda to comment on because the pictures
need to accompany that text.

Roger, Sheila, Ozzie and her sister Karen rounded out the group.
Everyone else when on a two-hour hike around the Lake, and then we went
to the Marina and devoured food.

edit - I can see Linda finished typing before I did -
but you get the idea of the excitement today. >O<

Larger eagle coming with stick


Younger eagle flew out to meet her and is now flying with her.. very jealous I guess...


The battle for the stick took place behind a smaller tree so not too clear, but a real tug of war...


and into the clear, still rolling around with the stick... maybe this is why Dr. Sharp said they might not be mature enough this year???

Ran a errand before getting home - like Lala said we all had a great time together - so glad Lala and Bette got to see all the activity of the eagles - they had left by the time Roger and I arrived - am looking forward to the pics. Was so good to catch up with Lala, Kathie,/iggle, Vicki, Sara, Ozzie/Kathy, Bette and Karen - haven't seen Karen and Kathy in sooooo long - hope it won't be as long in the future. It was great to meet Linda's brother Mike too. We had a great hike like Lala said. The food at the Casitas Cafe is and was great (since I ate it all) - didn't know they had so much space - we sat outside and Sara and Vickie and later Kathie had fun feeding the little squirrels and watching the one with the french fry push the other away with his butt - also had bonding going on between them - there were 3 squirrels. Saw lots of other birds - some took more pics than Roger - will see how many get posted. Roger and I encounted 2 small showers on the 101 before heading for Ojai, but only had overcast at 1st and later the sun came through. When heading back to SB the closer we got to the ocean, no sun and lots of low overcast, but no rain. So sorry Cathy/Hiker, Regan and Sandie, Katie couldn't be with us. Bob stayed at Crown Plaza still not feeling well and Rusty was laying pavers at Karen's house - hope Sara or Lala post the pic of the BOB shirt Sara found and gave to Ozzie.

Lori - thanks for posting the plans to monitor Pa Sydney - hope they don't have to capture him and it will all work out.

Love all the food posted for the virtual picnic - nice choices - love the hamburger cake.

The bonding <3 <3 <3 <3


:wub: :wub:

:wub: :wub:

Just before the gopher attack


Sitting on a branch below the phone pole in distance ... eagle flew into the field of flowers and caught something, but it took about 30 seconds.. then brought it back to nest.

The Final Four....