Elves have a long history in Western Civilization, going all the way back to Norse mythology. They are often tricksters, causing trouble for humans, but they also sometimes surreptitiously provide help to them, as well. Working in the mists and outside the view of human eyes, their labor is often done beyond the temporal plane of existence. Some elves equipped with bobcats removed large amounts of illegally dumped trash and debris on land owned by Paul McKee behind St. Augustine’s the Friday afternoon after my recent article about efforts to renovate and stabilize the venerable old church. Everyone involved is greatly appreciative of their work, whomever they were.
I did some more experimenting with my new telephoto lens, and took an OK photo of the cross high on top of the spire, discovering that it was once gilded. That is not surprising, if one looks at many other churches around the world for comparison.
A large raptor, a hawk or an eagle (I am not an ornithologist) made an appearance, viewing a cleanup day organized by Brittany Breeden, the new owner of the church on Saturday.
Looks like a buzzard
Turkey vulture.
You do not have to be an ornithologist to be able to identify birds; purchase a Peterson Field Guide to Birds and read through it.
I wonder how much longer that spire would have lasted? The thieves would have gotten it eventually. So glad they didn’t.
A great question. They had ripped off the pieces of copper right below the cross some time ago, but for some reason they had never come back for the last bit at the top. I heard a rumor of there being a bees nest up there, but I can’t confirm that, and it certainly wouldn’t have stopped them during the winter.
I don’t really want anyone to get hurt, but a swarm of angry bees attacking these thieves would have been ok by me???