Jordan Lake. If you have found yourself wondering over the last few days just where Doc Ellen might be… Well, I have been trying to get everything set up to bring my youngest brother up from South Carolina to live with me. It has been a very busy week so far. I am planning on being back out at the lake June 1. It seems like it has been forever since I saw the eagles and ospreys and the itty-bitty birds too. While I am away, if you have been thinking about my GoFundMe camera campaign and possibly making a donation, I am closing the campaign as of June 1. If you are interested in helping, here is the link. https://gofund.me/6643c913. Hang in there with this eastern bluebird and keep an eye out for the reappearance of Doc Ellen very soon!
Jordan Lake. H&G nest both the chicks have fledged! In the last two days they both took flight. 1st photo is mama Godiva. 2nd photo is one of the fledglings coming in to land while Godiva watches it. 3rd photo is the Fledgling at upper right watching mama Godiva at lower left. 4th photo is Godiva to the left, fledgling in the middle and the other fledgling landed in the nest. Whew!!!
Jordan Lake. One of the Fledgling Bald Eagles – I don’t know which one – got way too close to one of the osprey nests. Dad osprey was quite upset about that and decided to make sure the young eagle left the area. The inexperience of the Fledgling Eagle sure showed up as it ended up tumbling through the air. Both birds came out of the episode just fine.
I have had a very unexpected but wonderful notification … and I need a bit more funding support. The camera store where I had back ordered and placed on hold the new camera, notified me that they have the camera back in stock, but not very many of them. Since there was enough funding in my account for the camera body, they wanted to go ahead and ship me the camera even though I don’t have quite the money to also purchase the lens that goes with it. We talked a bit. We decided to ship the camera to me and wait and see if I could finish raising the rest of the money for the lens that is especially made for the camera (they are holding one for me). I could buy the adapter ($200) that would let me use my present lens with the new camera but with that comes additional weight and the difficulty for me to use the adapter. I and the camera store decided to wait to see if maybe over the next few days my GoFundMe could raise the rest of the money to buy the new lens too. I need an additional $1500 to get the new lens. If you have already donated your time, your funds, your support to me, thank you! If you have not yet made a donation to my GoFundMe please consider doing so. The lighter camera and lens will bring much relief and ease to my fieldwork. I will be able to go to the lake, marvel in all that nature has to show us and then share my delight with all of you. I will be ending the campaign on June 1, 2022, with gratitude to all of you. Thank you, peace and grace, Doc Ellen https://gofund.me/9ba7f009
Jordan Lake. H&G bald eagle nest. That is one very large chick! Probably a female because the adult in the nest with her is dad Hershey. At this point the chicks are adult-sized. You can see that this female bald eagle chick is the usual 25% bigger in size than a male.
Jordan Lake. This butterfly has an interesting name, “question mark”. I have photographed dozens of these butterflies. This is the first time I’ve gotten a very clear and distinct photo of the marking that gives the butterfly its name. On the underside of the hind wing you can clearly see a white “question mark“. It is always fun when I get to share photographic evidence for an insect’s name.
question mark butterflynote the “question mark” on the hind wing
doc ellen's journey 