Sometimes I am blessed and one the largest creatures of flight at the lake, a bald eagle, will come and perch above my shoulder and watch the world with me.  Sometimes, one of the smaller creatures, such as this dragonfly, will come and sit, weightless on my foot, and we too watch the world together.  Video was made on May 25, 2018, Jordan Lake.

Bald eagles are not usually sociable. They tolerate a mate and their chicks. Sometimes in winter, bald eagles will congregate around a food source, but argue about it. Once a chick has fledged, the parents will provide it some food and protection into the fall, but then the fledgling is on its own. I have watched, once or twice a year, an eaglet (starting its first or second year of life) make a trip back to its home nest and be briefly tolerated by the parents. On March 26, 2020, I finally got to record one of these encounters. Kate and one of her chicks are visited by the 2019 male fledgling from First Nest. Eventually Petruchio took exception to the visitor and chased it away. I sure am glad I could show you this uncommon bald eagle event!

Jordan Lake: I made this Natural Minute on March 26, 2020 but used a different little video to post that day. May this one bring a moment of quietness as we watch the northern mockingbird being busy. You can find other Natural Minutes archived at my blog at
Stop by and visit whenever you need a moment of Jordan Lake.

 I have given some thought as to how could I help each of us pass the time as we stay at home in order to deny the virus it’s chance to harm us. I hope to help in 2 ways.
1) I have placed copies of several month’s worth of my almost daily Natural Minute Jordan Lake videos from my Facebook page into a file on one of my web blogs. You can get to the blog at https://www.docellensphotography.com/ Then click on the Daily Blog on the left hand side, and once in the Blog, click on LogIn. No passwords are needed. You can return to visit the lake when the walls start to close in. The blog will also notify you any time I make a new entry.
2) I will be going back into my photo archives of the Jordan Lake and its Neighborhood and posting previously unpublished photos and sharing memories that I hope will bring a smile to each of you.
STAY HEALTHY! Peace and Grace, Doc Ellen

 

All parents, be they human or eagle, need an occasional break from parenting duties.  Captain Mom came zipping past the nest with Captain Dad not far behind her.  They flew hard and fast down the cove trying to be the first eagle to the tree.  I think Captain Dad, the lower eagle, just barely won the race!