I was trying to choose my photos for tonight’s posting and stopped searching when I got to this Carolina chickadee from this morning. I paused and looked at the softness of the almost spring in the pinks of the redbud tree blossoms and the elegant contrast of the small bird’s black and white plumage. Thought: we could all do with a quiet moment in these days of stress. So, take a minute and just be, just be with the little chickadee as he too paused in his day. Peace and Grace, Doc Ellen
Jordan Lake Dam, Jordan Lake State Park: SAFETY ALERT!
At the Jordan Lake State Park all facilities are closed except for the Robeson Creek canoe access. The office at the Jordan Lake State Park is also closed. The Army Corps of Engineers boat ramp at Poe Ridge is closed. Be safe, everyone. Stay healthy.
I found Dad Petruchio cleaning the nest and being watched by one of the chicks.
He soon left the nest and both chicks watched him go.
A while later, I first found Kate.
Then Petruchio, each on one of their favorite outlook perches.
Mom Godiva was up in the nest watching Dad Hershey fishing for breakfast for their chick(s). He flew out of sight and mom was hollering at him. I sure hope he caught a fish soon!
The great blue herons are sorting out where the best fishing spots are within the riprap. The heron on the left is a juvenile, hatched last year. The heron on the far right is an adult and I think it is a female. The middle heron, who’s priority is evident while he eats and ignores the sparring of the other two, is a mature male great blue heron. The juvenile is using his crown feathers in a raised display, hoping to get the smaller heron to back off. It didn’t work. Right as I got to the end of the sequence, a 4th (unseen great blue heron) dove into the middle of the other three and they all scattered.
Two 4-year-old bald eagles came up from the Haw River and the chase was on. The lead bald eagle had a rather small fish tucked tight against its tail and the other eagle wanted the fish. Gravity exerted its pull on the fish. The lead eagle lost its grip on the fish. Instantly the sky fishing game was on as the following bald eagle sought to catch the fish … in mid-air. I have seen this happen (eagle on eagle or eagle on osprey) but never gotten even close to the half-way decent photos I captured this morning. My oh my! Aerial dexterity in the extreme. Oh, and did the eagle catch the fish……. the slideshow has the exciting answer!
doc ellen's journey 