Jordan Lake: I had a couple of inquiries into exactly what the heck was a blue-grey gnatcatcher … the little bird that was in this morning‘s natural minute. So here are a couple of photos of the little gnatcatcher and they are indeed small. They are about an inch or so longer than a hummingbird. They feed on all kinds of small flying insects and they really really love to get a mouthful of a spider or a mite.
Jordan Lake, Right at the beginning of the Minute a tiny little bird dashes into view. It is a blue-gray gnatcatcher. It grabs a couple of mouthfuls of breakfast and then zooms on out. You can hear its sweet chatter as it’s hunting. Have a blessed day. Have a great week. Stay well.
Jordan Lake: life at the lake is always surprising me … as with the female fledgling osprey in the first two photos … who is much, much darker in plumage coloration than most ospreys. Her markings are a rich chocolate brown. I have included a photo of a female fledgling osprey in the normal plumage colors I see at the lake. Note the beautiful amber eyes of both birds as well as the white markings at the tips of their feathers.
Jordan Lake: Bald eagles can and do sometimes hover over a fish, especially when the fish is in the shallows. This female bald eagle did a powerful hover and then snatched her fish and headed for a tree, fish tucked tightly under her tail.
Jordan Lake, August 10, 2021. Doc Ellen‘s Natural Minute. It is a Minute of watching the parent chipping sparrow – that’s the bird on the left – gathering up insects to feed to his chick – it’s on the right. The parent is very vigorous and very good at catching the insects and promptly feeding his offspring. The baby tries to catch an insect a couple of times. Then the parent dashes off to look for insects elsewhere. The fledgling says well I guess I better go back to trying on my own before it decides maybe it’s easier food to go find the parent. Enjoy the breakfast of the chipping sparrows this morning! Take care, be safe. Stay well.
Jordan Lake: Captain Doug and I had thought that the bald eagle was standing a little awkwardly because maybe she was standing on a fish. But, no, a fish wasn’t involved in the stance at all … nope, there was an embarrassing toe problem…
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