The imperative for Life is to Live.
This is one of this year’s fledgling bald eagles. The injury to its wing is large.
Yet, he is fishing successfully.
Animals realize something is different when injured like this.
But the imperative stands: live.
This eaglet will keep flying and fishing until there is no life left.
I hope he is the 1 in 10 of each year’s fledglings that makes it to adulthood.
If you should want to read more of my thoughts about disabilities, differences and life,
or my soon to be published ebook: Jordan Lake Rescue: Grayced

Standing out at the lake this morning,
 I found myself thinking about all the displaced people in Texas and Louisiana.
I became absorbed in the thought that all of us need a place that is a safe home.
Birds need safe homes too … such as this ancient grand hardwood standing tall on the shoreline.
My prayers and meditations are that the people, animals, birds, plants and trees in Texas and Louisiana recover soon.
 

Youngsters!
This juvenile red-shouldered hawk had a prize in his talon.
When he came out of the trees I thought he had a mouse.
But, no, it was a pinecone.
I have watched all sorts of immature raptors playing with sticks and pinecones.
Great way to build strength and agility for the hunt and future nest building.

The cooler air has a lot of birds out and about.
 
This fledgling osprey has a nice sized fish dangling below her wing and her “rivets” are glowing.
 
 
A spectacular osprey launch.
 
 
Accipiters can be tricky to identify.
I believe this is an immature Cooper’s hawk who zipped past me and into the far pine trees.
 
 
It is always a little disconcerting to see long legged birds way up in trees.
However, they often do just that!
But I didn’t let that stop me from photographing this great egret.
 

In between watching eclipses and aerobatic bald eagles, I have kept my eye on other interesting critters …
This is father osprey plowing into the lake for a fish.


A white-tailed buck very calmly glanced my way and then went back to browsing.


Something must have tickled this great blue heron’s toes – he sure made a spectacular leap and didn’t take flight!

It was great fun watching the pileated woodpecker stop his hammering just long enough for me to get his portrait.


The three brassy little skipper butterflies were sharing a button bush blossom.