Jordan Lake surprised me again today.
I had been counting bald eagles for the quarterly eagle count when a large bird of another sort flew past.
It was a white pelican. I see these occasionally at Mattamuskeet or at the ocean shore but not here at Jordan Lake.
What a wonderful sight on a crisp autumn morning.
As is my wont after the eagle fledglings get out and about,
I stop by the Jordan Lake Eagle nest occasionally to check on the nest.
I always hope to catch a glimpse of the parents or maybe the fledglings.
On September 19, having just snapped a photo of the empty nest for my files, I heard a familiar eagle scream.
Kate came barreling across the cove heading straight for the nest.
She piled into the nest still screaming. I glimpsed a fledgling on a perch across the cove.
The immature eagle was quiet and watching the parent bird have a fit.
As quickly as Kate got to the nest, she bounced out again, flew across the cove, past the fledgling and was gone.
I don’t know what started the ruckus, but it sure was great seeing Kate and one of the fledglings.
Honest, there is a great blue heron in the photo!
The high waters of the lake have flooded all of the shoreline.
This allows the heron to stalk his fish and other snacks far into the tree line.
The lanky body of the heron becomes almost invisible until a stray sun beam lights his eye.
I heard the angry scream of an eagle behind me.
Turning around I missed the shot of a two or 3 year old eagle speeding through the trees.
What I did get was this 4 year old eagle.
Mad, angry, and in pursuit of the immature eagle that had preceded it past my line of sight.
I have no idea of why the chase but it sure set my heart racing.
diamanté immature osprey in the blue light of dawn
doc ellen's journey 