Great blue herons are actually grey.
But, in certain light, like the golden hour this morning,
you can easily see how the heron got his name.
Jordan Lake Neighborhood: Great Blue Heron 09-18-2019
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AuthorJordan Lake: Hawk Surprise 09-15-2019
Laugh with Doc Ellen…
Uh, oh. As I watched a hawk zip over my head this morning, I found myself thinking it sure looked liked a “T” in flight and that could make it an Accipiter (Cooper’s hawk or sharp-shinned hawk). But then I glanced at the wings as it zipped past and went to attack a crow that was perched in a tree, and said no, leading wing edge said it had to be a red-shouldered hawk. Then my brain said wait a minute, red-shouldered hawks don’t usually go after something like a crow. And I dismissed all those thoughts because two juvenile eagles went across the sky chasing each other. Then I got home and started looking at this morning’s photos. I should always go with my first thought. It was an Accipiter. Drat that I didn’t notice that LONG tail and its band configuration. The hawk is a sharp-shinned hawk.
Jordan Lake: Bald Eagle Fledgling
During the photography class this morning, we got a chance to watch this eaglet calmly, almost floating, fly past us. Always keeping an eye of all things happening at the lake, this fledgling bald eagle came by to see what was happening in his territory. What a great subject for my students! I thanked the eaglet for helping with the instructions.
Jordan Lake: Juxtaposition 09/10/2019
Juxtaposition
We think of birds as fragile, feathers and air, so to speak.
We think of trees as sturdy, leaves and wood, you could say.
Yet, winds and waters laid the tree down, upon the earth.
The great egret passes by and wonders how could it be
He lives to fly and the tree slumbers beside the lake.
Jordan Lake: Surprised Osprey Fledgling 09-08-2019
This female fledgling kept looking down at her talons … almost as if she were surprised that she had caught her very own fish! She was beautiful in the early morning light. The youngster’s red-orange eye color is typical of a fledgling – an adult osprey has a bright golden eye.
Jordan Lake Bald Eagles Playing in the Wind 09-05-2019
Hershey and Godiva are one of the mated pairs of bald eagles at Jordan Lake. This morning, while Hurricane Dorian was still off SC and we were just starting to get some good gusts, Godiva called out to Hershey, challenging him to a chase in the strengthening wind. By the way, Hershey is the light brown eagle (he is named after the chocolate bar) and Godiva is the normal dark brown of a bald eagle.
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