photography

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By doc ellen and the queen snake

While out at the lake yesterday, a friend spotted a snake.
We soon had T. J. Hilliard there to identify the long thin snake that I am holding.
It is a queen snake Regina septemvittata.
It is nonvenomous, is a water snake, and a native species.
The queen snake has very specific living requirements.
It is only found where there are clean running streams and water sheds.
The presence of the queen snake can help us know that the condition of Jordan lake is great!
the photo is curtesy of T. J. Hilliard

TJ2_9017-2

By Ace and the Thief
Ace the osprey had caught a small fish.
He then changed directions in the air to head back to his nest.
An immature herring gull wanted the fish.
Ace tried to hold on to the fish so he could feed his mate Amelia………
to see the full sequence of the struggle, please go to https://flic.kr/p/E3nQ88
WALK8648 03-06-16 @ 18-32-49 Haw River 03-06-16 @ 18-32-49 Haw

By they are back!

Yeah! The ospreys are back at the lake!
They have been spotted from north to south and side to side on the shorelines.
This male osprey has gotten himself a fine fish for his supper.

Osprey

By Hershey’s challenge

I watched, amazed, as Hershey the smallest male bald eagle on the lake set his talons and took this huge carp.
Hershey weighs about 10 pounds. The common carp weighs at least 2 pounds.
Hershey never got the fish more than 3 feet above the water.
He essentially crashed landed on the shore and flopped over on the fish.
He stood up, jumped all over the carp, and eventually left the carp on the shore.
This is the only time I have seen any eagle take a carp!