Jordan Lake Dam: Bald Eagle Squabble 12-26-2018

Down the Haw River I watched as these two immature bald eagles got into a squabble.

The eagle to the right had just gotten knocked off the branch it was perched on, by an older eagle.

The eagle to the left seemed to resent the disturbance and faced off with the other youngster.

The encounter stayed a bluff on both sides and they both found new perches elsewhere.

doc ellen’s Christmas Greeting, 2018

By neighdoctor December 24, 2018 Images

How to successfully run the riprap of the Haw River and catch your breakfast.

I had been standing on the dam for some time this morning, enjoying the sunshine.

I turned to start back toward my truck when I realized that I was being watched.

The 4-year-old eagle was calmly observing me and I returned the favor.

We spent the next 15 minutes watching each other. What a joy!

Finally a fish caught his eye and he made a long swoop toward the lake.

He missed the fish, made a swing over the east end of the dam and headed north.

The great blue heron was standing on the fishing pier railing at the Jordan Lake Dam tailrace this morning.

She was ignoring the rain but intently watching another great blue heron on the other side of the river.

Good thing my camera also ignores the rain, but I do try to keep it dry.

Now, as far as doc goes: my winter coat shed the rain and most of the cold, but I was happy to return to my truck after an hour or so.

I was out checking nests today. Didn’t see any parent birds.

But, in one of the coves this 2-year-old bald eagle showed up.

He came zooming out of a bend in the cove, made a low pass over the water, but didn’t fish.

With a lot of momentum, he headed for a landing up in a tree.

Oops. He grabbed the branch but hadn’t lost enough speed and couldn’t stick the landing.

My next shot of him was very blurred as he fought to stay on the branch but ended up flying away. I deleted that photo.