Jordan Lake: About a week ago, Captain Doug and I spent several minutes in his boat, floating quietly on the lake, watching this female bald eagle enjoying a meal of a fish she had caught. We both waited patiently for the moment when she would finish the fish, clean her beak, stretch, shake out and launch into another tour of her kingdom. Oh, how I do like catching the energy of a launch!
Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River, Bald Eagle Gathering. Bald eagles will steal, or try to, a fish from other bald eagles. The eagle in the lead is a mature bald eagle and he is carrying a small, white fish that is dangling in his talons just below his tail feathers. The chaser is a 2-year-old bald eagle and it surely wants the fish. The perched fledgling eagle ogles the other two birds for the moment, but eventually it also entered the chase … too far down river for my camera to make an attempt at a shot.
Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River: This morning the weather was cold, crisp and windy … bald eagles love those conditions. These two immature bald eagles came speeding up the river, headed towards the dam. They sparred as they went past me and were still trying to prove which one was the better fighter when they disappeared over the dam towards the main lake. The top eagle is a 2-year-old and the bottom eagle is a 3-year-old.
A hummingbird? Perhaps a songbird, duck or bald eagle? Natural focal points for your desk or your living room wall? Please wander through https://docellentinsley.smugmug.com where you could get all your holiday shopping done. Maybe you would like to share some fine art with family and friends for the Holidays. In my gallery you can order a large variety of birds and landscapes as prints, framed wall art or desk art, or greeting cards! Thanks for your support and friendship, peace and grace, Doc Ellen
Jordan Lake: Bald Eagle Nest Report: H&G NestI watched Dad Hershey go past with a large, rather branched repair stick for his nest. Not more than 200 feet behind him came Mom Godiva. More often than not it is the dad bald eagle that carries the branches and mom who does the reconstruction work. But, I have seen moms carrying sticks and dads hard at work patching the nest. Good to see the work going forward for the breeding season.
Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River: I recently found out that this particular plumage pattern is called a “white belly” bald eagle. This youngster is one of this year’s fledglings. I see one or two of these white bellies every year. The eaglet will be mostly brown by the time it is a 3-year-old.
doc ellen's journey 