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By Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge trip 8 photos 7-27-2017
A trip to Lake Mattamuskeet needs to be on everybody’s  list.
 
It was at Lake Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge that the Bald Eagle was re-introduced to NC.
 
The Bald Eagles then made their way inland to Jordan Lake.
 
Try your hardest to get there at sunrise – they are almost always spectacular from the causeway!
 
Adult bald eagle way across the front impoundment at Mattamuskeet.  
This time of the year the eagles can be hard to find at Mattamuskeet.
 
The lake and its surrounding area has beautiful cypress trees.
 
 
The still waters of the lake and the impoundments often give reflections that are wonderfully detailed.
Great Blue Heron fishing.
 
 
The insect life at Mattamuskeet is very diverse – with many different dragonflies.
Did you see the dragonfly shadow?
 
 
The white-tailed deer really enjoy the browsing at the lake.  
 
 
The yellow-billed cuckoo is also found at Jordan Lake.
 I hear rather than see them most of the time.
 
 
The zebra swallowtail butterfly is the only swallowtail in our region with white stripes.
 

By J Neighborhood: 2 Birds, 2 Butterflies and Bumblebees
Elegant, graceful, simply beautiful, Great Egret
 
 
Eastern Kingbird fledgling – yelling for a parent to feed him.  
 
 
the Common Buckeye butterfly
 
 
A Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly sharing a button bush blossom with some Eastern Bumblebees.
All these insects, along with the Common Buckeye are important pollinators.
 
 
 
 

By JL Neighborhood, black & white photography
Some days there is nothing like black and white photography to show details.
 
Unknown 4 year-old-bald eagle.  Oh, so, self-assured.
 
 
A pair of ospreys.  The female is the upper bird.  Note her bigger bulk.
 As in all raptors, the girls are bigger.
 
 
A glare that would be worthy of a bald eagle.
The eastern kingbird certainly seemed to be issuing an edict about whose territory I was on.
 
 
Male osprey taking home a fish for his chicks who are close to fledging. 
 
 

By Purple Martin Dragonfly Handoff
The male purple martin flashed past me and snagged a dragonfly.
Crimped the insect’s wing and spit the dragonfly out.
The male purple martin did a roll back and smiled at me.
From the lower left corner another purple martin appeared.
Either a female or an immature martin.
The male swept past me as I watched the other bird home in on the dragonfly.
Yes, it caught it, but sadly was too deep in the shadows for my camera to get a focused photo.
I think the male may have deliberately handed off the dragonfly.

By JL Neighborhood updates. 5 photos July 17, 2017

I want to say Thank You for all the wonderful responses to my 2 new eBooks and to the interview with Frank Stachio on The State of Things. During the eagle lecture at the Jordan Lake State Recreation Area on Saturday there were all kinds of good questions and the sharing of each other’s interactions with eagles.  All of you helped make last week full of blessings and gratitude!

Lady Lake cruised past me, elegant and sure of herself.  
I didn’t see Heritage her mate but I am sure he was close by.


This bright American goldfinch was way at the top of a tree. Usually I see them in the tall grasses.


American crows, caught in the right light, are iridescent. This one had a bite of fish for his fledgling.


The male ospreys are working hard to feed their chicks.


Nests always need repair. Ospreys tend to like branches all twisted and with lots of forks.