Jordan Lake Dam: I am a Bald Eagle 01/12/2019

By neighdoctor January 12, 2019 Jordan Lake Dam: I am a Bald Eagle 01/12/2019

I am a bald eagle.

I have made it past my first birthday and heading for my second.

The wind is cold and hard and stirs my heart.

All the fish in the lake are mine.

Watch me fly, I dare you, just watch me fly.

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Jordan Lake Dam: Young Bald Eagle Fishing 4 photos 01-11-2019

By neighdoctor January 11, 2019 Jordan Lake Dam: Young Bald Eagle Fishing 4 photos 01-11-2019

The 1 1/2 year-old bald eagle came streaking over the edge of the riprap.

Set her talons, intent on a fish.

Strike! 

Quickly the youngster lifted the fish up into the sky and to the protection of the trees.

She made it to a tree without any of the other eagles managing to steal her prize.

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Jordan Lake Dam: Adding Up 01-09-2019

By neighdoctor January 9, 2019 Jordan Lake Dam: Adding Up 01-09-2019

Adding up:

1 medium-sized fish, stunned by the transit through the dam.

1 great blue heron with the fish in its beak.

1 great blue heron thinking about stealing the fish from the other heron.

1 bald eagle determined to make the fish his.

Results: the heron swallowed the fish before it could get stolen.

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Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Challenge 01-08-2019

By neighdoctor January 8, 2019 Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Challenge 01-08-2019

There is just about no better way to end a day of photography at the lake than with this display of wild freedom.

A pair of adult bald eagles challenging the wind, the sky, the earth beneath them and each other.

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Jordan Lake Dam: Bald Eagle Distraction 2 photos, 01-04-2019

By neighdoctor January 4, 2019 Jordan Lake Dam: Bald Eagle Distraction 2 photos, 01-04-2019

The bald eagle was lined up, eyes steady on the fish.

He had dropped his feet and was ready to flare his talons.

I was hoping for a great photo of a fish catch.

And then …

 

 

The great blue heron squawked, gronked, flared his head feathers and the eagle got distracted.

The eagle bent away from the heron, pulled up his feet and went around for another try.

The look on the eagle’s face was priceless.

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Jordan Lake Dam: Bald Eagle Disagreement 01-03-2019

By neighdoctor January 3, 2019 Jordan Lake Dam: Bald Eagle Disagreement 01-03-2019

Bald Eagles are ALWAYS out to prove just who is the best, strongest, top-of-the-heap.

Or, in this case, winner of the favored branch for a perch.

The 4-1/2-year-old eagle with its back to you has decided he wants the perch the other eagle has already landed on.  Hah!

 

 

The velocity of the impact and gravity takes effect and the other 4-year-old eagle is knocked off the perch.

 

 

Then the chase is on as the one who started the affair decides he really didn’t want the perch; he just wanted to prove he was the stronger bird.

 

 

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