Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River:
Set!
Strike! Note: she has quickly flicked her nictitating membrane over her eye as protection.
Hold on!
Head for Home!
Mom osprey on a successful fishing pass within the riprap.
Mom Osprey Fishing
birds
CategoryJordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest report: Captain’s Nest
You can see the almost white-colored chick stretching up towards his Dad’s tail while Dad is pulling a piece of fish free to feed the chick.
Dad has a bit of fish in his beak and is reaching towards his chick.
Dad gently gives the chick a bite of fish.
Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest report: First Nest
Sometimes, it takes a “not-seeing” moment for me to realize in the next blink, that I am “seeing” something. For instance, that is Kate standing in her nest. In the 1st photo, look between Kate’s left shoulder and the tree branch and note the empty space there. In the second photo, a small darkness has appeared in that same gap. In the 3rd photo the darkness has become one of her chicks! In the 4th photo, the chick has disappeared again. Neat sequence of Kate’s approximately 5-6 week old chick peeking past her shoulder.
Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest Report; H&G Nest
I found Dad Hershey in the nest, enjoying the golden hour of sunrise. Eventually Mom Godiva flew in and landed on one of their sentinel trees. I didn’t see the chick(s); they have to get a wee bit older and bigger before they will be visible. It sure was great to be able to get out and about on the lake again after all the high water!
Smile!
Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River: I do believe this double-crested cormorant was smiling! This is not the usual flight orientation that I get to shoot. This youngster came up off the river, banked gently, glanced at me and turned right back to the river, and back to his fishing in the riprap.
Osprey Shake
Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River: On a fishing dive, an osprey picks up a lot of water. Water is heavy at 8 pounds per gallon. The osprey is an efficient flyer so once it gains some height above the water, the bird does a shake to throw off the excess water and its weight. I love watching the shake start at the bird’s beak and finally flipping off at the end of its tail – just like a very wet dog. The bright morning light striking the scattering drops makes the osprey a sparkling sunburst.
doc ellen's journey 