Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River.  Hold On!!! Neat fact coming up!!! Guess what: Hummingbirds do NOT suck up nectar.  Nope.  They lap/lick up the nectar. I have simplified the process explanation:  The hummingbird flicks his long tongue out and into the nectar.  The tongue flattens and grooves down its length become immersed in the fluid.  The tongue then rolls it sides up and the rolling action puts pressure on the nectar and down it goes into the bird’s tummy.  In effect, the tongue is an elastic pump.  Ok.  So, I have given you 2 photos from this morning at the lake so you can see the very long thin tongue on this ruby-throated hummingbird.  The black and white photo helps delineate the tongue.  Link to take you to a wonderful page with great explanations https://www.livescience.com/51904-hummingbird-tongue-pump.html

Jordan Lake, Haw River: Alert Bald Eagle. Oft times as a photographer I am pulled in two different directions. Do I continue to concentrate on the bird on the perch, in this case obviously watching something to his right? Or, do I track to my left with my lens to see what has the eagle’s attention? The alert concentration on the eagle’s face kept my focus and appreciation. I don’t know what he was watching, but I know what you and I are seeing and sensing. Do enjoy!

Jordan Lake: How to define the word “STRETCH”! This 4-year-old bald eagle did a magnificent stretch and leap into the air when it launched. I reckon you could also use the photo to define “POWER”!

Jordan Lake, Haw River: While out with Captain Doug on the lake yesterday, we spotted this fledgling great blue heron. The youngster was hatched this spring, but, his young age doesn’t keep him from knowing with absolute certainty that all of the shoreline belongs to him. He walked the fallen tree to the end and surveyed his world.

Jordan Lake: Mom bald eagle came ripping across the top of the trees.  There was a 3-year-old bald eagle in her territory.  The face-to-face mid-air action was breath-taking!  It didn’t take Mom Eagle long to chase the youngster through the trees and out of the cove.  Whew!