Fledgling
Many different species of birds are fledging at Jordan Lake right now.
I quietly watched this great blue heron this morning.
This new flier is about 8 weeks old and has probably been flying for only a few days.
 He was exploring the lake shoreline when he discovered that I was watching him.
Full of curiosity he ambled closer for a look.

 

Ranger Cove Bald Eagle Nest
Ranger Dad brought a squirrel to the nest this morning.
The squirrel was so heavy that Ranger Dad had to slide in sideways to the nest and slam on his brakes.
The unfledged chick was still in the nest and it promptly pounced on the squirrel.
This made the eaglet fledgling, who was up top on the right hand trunk, pretty darn mad.
So mad that he flew/fell/crash landed down into the nest.
Then it was a free-for all for possession of the squirrel.
 Ranger dad stayed out of the fight until he decided that he should be the one to parcel out the food.

Jordan Lake: Wait! Hold on! Hey, I think you have my fish!
I caught up with the osprey as he was coming up from a fishing dive.
I thought it was probably a decent set of shots.
Got home and started looking through the set and lo and behold, there was more action than I thought.
A cormorant popped up behind the osprey and was looking for his fish.
I don’t think the osprey deliberately stole the cormorant’s fish. Ospreys don’t do that kind of fishing.
I think both birds went for the same fish under water and the osprey got to the fish first.
But I gotta say the cormorant sure looks woeful as the osprey flies off with the fish!

Jordan Lake Dam: June Flight Jamboree!!
Sunday morning was cool and bright. All the feathers in flight glittered with life.
Parent birds. Juveniles. Big birds and small ones.

 

1) Northern Cardinal, male juvenile
2) Blue Grosbeak
3) Common Grackle
4) Brown-headed Cowbird
5) Fish Crow
6) Great Crested Flycatchers, juveniles
7) Eastern Bluebird
8) Osprey
9) Summer Tanager