neighdoctor

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By Winter Surprise!!! 10 photos
Yes, that is a hummingbird and oh, my, I took the photos today in Garner, NC. No, it is not a ruby-throated hummingbird nor is it where it shouldn’t be this time of the year.
Come to find out, the RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD sometimes over winters here in NC. Even most astonishing: this bird may have migrated here from Alaska and will go back to Alaska in the spring.  Oh, wow!
The little female hummer was safely caught today, measured, weighed in at 3.3 grams, checked for its fitness and banded. Then off it went to go back to feeding.
Keep an eye out for these migrants: if you have a stream or lake or pond nearby and have red or pink flowers blooming close by they may be attracted to your yard for a visit and feeding.
If you see one, please, put your hummingbird feeder back out: use a mix of 4 parts water to 1 part sugar and NOTHING else. Bring the feeder in at night to keep it from freezing and put it back out at first light. If you will let me know of any of these visiting your yard I will pass the information along to the bird bander so she can gather more data. More photos can be seen at my friend’s blog http://artfuldogger.blogspot.com and see the winter home where this hummer was seen and banded
her band is on her right leg – tiny, tiny id bracelet; see 4th photo!
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By H&G nest report 12/20/2016

This is Godiva (closest to us) and Hershey.
I got fooled earlier today, while looking at images on my camera’s LED.
I thought this couple was the new couple Heritage and Lady Lake.
It wasn’t until Godiva flew out first that I could see Hershey’s color.
My apologies to those viewing the Jordan Lake Wildlife cam Facebook page where I had mis-identified the eagles!walk9206

By bald eagle families, Jordan Lake, 2 photos

Eagle Nest / First Nest of Jordan Lake
BTW I am changing this nest name to First Nest to help us all keep the nests straight.
This is the very first nest I started monitoring for the Army Corps of Engineers (thank you, A.C.E.!).
Here is Kate leaving the nest after she and Petruchio had spent some time working on it.
Kate should start laying eggs the end of this month.

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H&G nest

A little hard to see with the glare of the bright afternoon sun yesterday!
That is Hershey flying up to the nest.
Godiva is sitting on her usual perch on a branch in front of the nest,
Yes, she is hollering – maybe because Hershey isn’t bringing a repair branch?

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By UPDATE on Lady Lake and Heritage

Update on the new Jordan Lake eagle pair, Lady Lake and Heritage:
With the help of a pair of hikers, we now know where the nest of the eagle couple is located.
I want to thank the hikers for their thoughtfulness and concern:
they brought the nest to the attention of me and the State Park Rangers and asked how to help protect the eagles.
Now we can all work together to be sure the nest, parents and hoped for eaglets have a safe environment.

I will try to make updates when I can, however the nest is in an area that will make that difficult.

In the photo, that is Lady Lake in the lead, with Heritage following her.
BTW: I call the female Lady Lake because she stands very tall and Heritage is named after the Heritage Days at Jordan Lake.

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